North Carolina Faith Leaders Call on Sen. Burr to End Filibuster Threat of Legislation...

North Carolina Faith Leaders Call on Sen. Burr to End Filibuster Threat of
Legislation to Protect Kids From Tobacco

Press Conference January 15 at 11 a.m. in Raleigh

Faith and public health leaders from North Carolina will hold a press
conference on January 15 in Raleigh to call on Senator Richard Burr to end his
opposition to legislation that would grant the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) authority over tobacco products. Senator Burr has stated
several times publicly that he would filibuster the legislation if it was
brought to the Senate floor for a vote. Congress is expected to consider the
legislation in the coming months.

The House of Representatives on July 30, 2008, approved the legislation by an
overwhelming vote of 326 to 102. It had 60 sponsors in the Senate, including
13 Republicans, but the Senate ran out of time to act due to the economic
crisis. The main obstacle to the legislation has been the filibuster threat
by Senator Burr.

The legislation would give FDA the authority to crack down on tobacco
marketing and sales to kids, stop tobacco companies from misleading the public
about the health risks of their products and allow the FDA to make changes in
these products, such as the reduction or removal of harmful constituents.
Unbelievably, despite being the most deadly product sold in America, tobacco
products are exempt from basic health regulations that apply to other products
we consume, such as food and drugs. The FDA regulates a box of macaroni and
cheese and a tube of lipstick, but not a pack of cigarettes.

WHAT: Faith leaders' press conference calling on Sen. Burr to end his
filibuster threat of legislation to give the FDA authority over tobacco
products to protect children and save lives

WHO: Reverend Mark Creech, Executive Director, Christian Action League of
North Carolina

Dr. David Hansley, Director of Home Missions and Evangelism, Original Free
Will Baptists

Rev. Curtis Norris, Pastor, Calvary Missionary Methodist Church, Olivia, North
Carolina Former President of the Missionary Methodist Conference of North
Carolina

Dr. Douglas Schocken, Duke Heart Center, Duke University Medical Center

WHERE:
Christian Action League of North Carolina
809 Spring Forest Road, Suite 1000
Raleigh, North Carolina 27609

WHEN: Thursday, January 15, 2009
11 a.m.

CONTACT: Nicole Dueffert, +1-202-296-5469, or Rev. Mark Creech,
+1-919-915-3033, both of Faith United Against Tobacco

/PRNewswire-USNewswire - Jan. 12/

SOURCE Faith United Against Tobacco