On Wednesday, March 4, 2009, at 10 a.m. the House Energy and Commerce Committee held a business meeting to consider: H.R. 1256, the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (Rep. Waxman); H.R. 1259, the Dextromethorphan Distribution Act (Rep. Upton); H.R. 1246, the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Act (Rep. Capps); H.R. 1253, the Health Insurance Restrictions and Limitations Clarification Act (Rep. Burgess); H.R. 20, the Melanie Blocker Stokes Mom’s Opportunity to Access Health, Education, Research, and Support for Postpartum Depression Act (Rep. Rush); H.R. 479, the Wakefield Act (Rep. Matheson); H.R. 577, the Vision Care for Kids Act of 2009 (Rep. Green); H.R. 756, the National Pain Care Policy Act of 2009 (Rep. Capps); H.R. 914, the Physician Workforce Enhancement Act of 2009 (Rep. Burgess); and H.R. 307, the Christopher and Dana Reeves Paralysis Act (Rep. Baldwin). The roll call votes, along with summaries of the amendments, are posted here.
Summary of amendments to H.R. 1256, the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act:
An amendment in the nature of a substitute offered by Rep. Steve Buyer, R-Ind., would establish a new Tobacco Harm Reduction Center to reduce deaths and diseases associated with tobacco use. The amendment in the nature of substitute would also prevent the use of tobacco product by minors. Roll call vote: 34 Democrats voted No; 18 Republicans voted Yes.
For a detailed vote tally and amendment text, click Here
An amendment offered by Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich., would prohibit the FDA from using resources to regulate tobacco until the Secretary of Health and Human Services certifies that the FDA has inspected at least 10 percent of food facilities in the previous year. This will ensure that FDA concentrates securing the safety of our food and keeps our food from being a third-tier issue at FDA. Roll call vote: 30 Democrats voted No; 15 Republicans voted Yes.
For a detailed vote tally and amendment text, click Here
An amendment offered by Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich., would prohibit the FDA from using resources to regulate tobacco until the secretary of Health and Human Services certifies that all of the heart disease drugs have been approved or disapproved for the therapy of those in need. Roll call vote: 28 Democrats voted No; 13 Republicans voted Yes.
For a detailed vote tally and amendment text, click Here
An amendment offered by Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Texas, would allow the FDA to require the reduction of nicotine yields of a tobacco product to zero and thus remove the addictive part of tobacco use. This amendment would lead to fewer consumers of tobacco products becoming addicted to the nicotine in tobacco. Roll call vote: 31 Democrats and one Republican voted No; 14 Republicans voted Yes.
For a detailed vote tally and amendment text, click Here
An amendment offered by Rep. Steve Buyer, R-Ind., would create the Tobacco Harm Reduction Center under the Department of Health and Human Services so that the FDA could focus its efforts on the safety of food, drugs, and devices. The Tobacco Harm Reduction Center would help reduce deaths caused by smoking and prevent the use of tobacco products by minors. 33 Democrats voted No; 17 Republicans voted Yes.
For a detailed vote tally and amendment text, click Here
An amendment offered by Rep. Phil Gingrey, R-Ga., would not allow the FDA to use its resources on tobacco regulation until the secretary of Health and Human Services certifies that the FDA has inspected all foreign drug establishments within the previous two years. This amendment will allow FDA to use its resources to ensure that our nation’s drug supply is secure. The amendment was defeated by a voice vote.
For amendment text, click Here
An en bloc amendment offered by Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich. would not allow the FDA to use its resources on tobacco regulation until the Secretary of Health and Human Services certifies that the FDA has approved or disapproved all pediatric cancer, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, and human papillomavirus drugs. This amendment will allow FDA to use its resources to ensure that our nation’s drug supply is provided to those most in need. 33 Democrats voted No; 18 Republicans voted Yes.
For a detailed vote tally and amendment text, click Here
An amendment offered by Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich., would ensure that the funds used to regulate tobacco would come exclusively from user fees and not from the general FDA fund that should be appropriating those dollars towards the safety of our food, drugs, and medical devices. 33 Democrats voted No; 19 Republicans voted Yes.
For a detailed vote tally and amendment text, click Here
