Congressman Michael Burgess, M.D. (TX-26), a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, released the following statement today after voting against HR 1256, a bill to give the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authority over tobacco regulation:

“The FDA is a beleaguered agency that cannot do what we currently require it to do with food and drugs.  Agency officials have stated that the FDA is badly understaffed and underfunded.  Yet, with this bill, we are giving the agency an entire new product group – tobacco.  This is hardly a logical rationale, let alone safe for the American public.

“Nonetheless, since the Majority was planning to move forward with this illogical bill, it was my intent to amend this flawed piece of legislation and make it a better product.  I attempted to offer an amendment that would give the FDA the authority it will need to meaningfully regulate this product.  Giving the FDA the power to reduce nicotine levels to zero would be the single-most important tool we could provide the agency to control this dangerous product.  Unfortunately, the Majority did not allow for an open debate and would not allow my amendment to be offered.

“Tobacco, when used as directed, kills 400,000 people a year.  I lost both parents to tobacco-related illness, so I clearly understand the dangerous nature of this product.  It cannot be made safe.  So, I do not understand why we would have a bill to allow FDA to regulate tobacco usage, when we will not allow them to have the one tool that would actually do some good in this legislation.

“Until the agency is able to demonstrate on a consistent basis they have the capacity to do all we currently require of them, we should not give them any additional responsibilities.  The only thing we should give them is the resources they need to do their job.  This is why I voted against giving the FDA authority over tobacco.”

   
Congressman Michael Burgess, M.D., is a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and three of its subcommittees: Health, Energy & Environment, and Oversight & Investigations.  He is also a member of the bipartisan, bicameral Joint Economic Committee.  Prior to becoming a member of Congress in 2002, Congressman Burgess practiced medicine in North Texas for over 25 years.