Cigar smokers got two wins at today’s meeting of the House of Representations Committee on Appropriations. The committee met for a markup meeting, a process where members can propose amendments to the proposed FY 2017 Appropriations bill. During the meeting, two different amendments regarding exempting premium cigars from regulation by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA). One passed, one failed—both good news for cigar smokers. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., proposed an amendment that would remove language passed last week by the Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture that would exempt premium cigars from FDA regulation. That amendment failed by a vote of 14-34. “Unfortunately, FDA did not follow the Congressional intent and it chose to include them, this provision intends to remove that,” said Rep. Robert Aderholt, R-Ala., something that was repeated later by Rep. Hal Rogers, R.-Ala. Aderholt also argued that the 160 bipartisan sponsors of H.R. 662, a standalone bill that would do essentially the same, was another reason to reject the amendment. DeLauro argued that the exemption, which would defund FDA if it did not adhere to the exemption, would hold FDA “hostage” in regards to deeming rules. The language reads: SEC. 749. None of the funds made available in this Act may be used ...
↧