WASHINGTON, D.C. — A new poll of registered voters in the 12th Congressional District of Georgia finds that 64 percent of voters support Congress passing a bill to give the U.S. Food and Drug Administration the authority to regulate tobacco products. Rep. John Barrow (D-Savannah) is a cosponsor of the legislation. As a member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Barrow is expected to play a key role on this legislation.

“We applaud Rep. Barrow for his support of this important legislation that protects our kids from tobacco addiction and save lives,” said Danny McGoldrick, vice president of Research for the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.

Support for FDA legislation crosses party lines, as large majorities of Democrats, Republicans and independents in the district support the proposal. Likewise, virtually every demographic subgroup — men and women, young and old, rich and poor, black and white — supports the legislation. Even 59 percent of current smokers favor Congress passing FDA legislation.

Support among the district’s voters for FDA regulation of tobacco climbs even higher (79 percent) when voters hear specific provisions of the bill and remains high (70 percent) after hearing arguments for and against the legislation.

The poll shows:
• 93 percent support restricting tobacco sales to children by requiring ID checks for younger buyers and fining retailers who sell tobacco to minors.
• 92 percent support restricting tobacco marketing aimed at children such as limiting advertising in magazines with a large percentage of readers under age 18.
• 86 percent support preventing tobacco companies from making claims that some products are less harmful than others unless the FDA determines those claims are true.
• 88 percent support requiring tobacco companies to take measures, when scientifically possible, to make cigarettes less harmful.
• 78 percent support requiring the reduction or removal of harmful ingredients, including nicotine, from tobacco products.

The poll also found that 70 percent of 12th District voters think Congress will have accomplished something important if it passes FDA legislation. In addition, 53 percent would have a more favorable opinion of Congress if it passes legislation giving the FDA authority over tobacco, while only 13 percent would have a less favorable opinion.

A recent report by the Institute of Medicine concluded that in order for the U.S. to dramatically reduce tobacco use as a significant public health problem, it is essential to provide FDA authority over tobacco products.

As the IOM concluded, “The time has come for Congress to exercise its acknowledged authority to regulate the production, marketing and distribution of tobacco products.”

Identical, bipartisan bills to grant the FDA authority over tobacco have been introduced in the Senate and House of Representatives.

Demonstrating strong bipartisan support, the legislation has 53 Senate sponsors and 196 House sponsors.
The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee passed the legislation on Aug. 1.

Nationwide, tobacco use kills more than 400,000 people and costs more than $96 billion in health care bills each year. Currently, 23 percent of high school students smoke and more than 1,000 kids become new regular smokers every day. In Georgia, tobacco use kills 10,300 residents and costs the state $2.25 billion in health care bills a year, and over 17 percent of high school students smoke.

The survey of 300 registered voters in Georgia’s 12th District was conducted by Public Opinion Strategies and the Mellman Group May 31-June 4, and has a margin of error of plus or minus 5.7 percentage points. Detailed poll results can be found at: http://tobaccofreekids.org/fdapoll/georgia.pdf