Church agency supports federal tobacco policy reform
5/30/2001
WASHINGTON (UMNS) - Comprehensive reform of the U.S. Government's tobacco policy is being encouraged by the United Methodist Board of Church and Society, the church's international public policy and social advocacy agency.
In a statement issued May 30, the board announced its support of a report from the President's Commission on Improving Economic Opportunity in Communities Dependent on Tobacco Production While Protecting Public Health. The board is also asking President Bush and members of Congress "take heed and act swiftly in implementing tobacco reform."
According to the commission's report, the federal government has an obligation to address the future of tobacco farmers and their communities as the demand for tobacco products declines. The commission is also recommending that Congress grant the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the authority to regulate tobacco.
For many years, the United Methodist Church has urged its members to abstain from using tobacco. Delegates to the church's General Conference, meeting in May 2000, urged the Department of Agriculture to "plan for and assist the orderly economic transition of the tobacco industry . . . into industries more compatible with the general welfare of the people." (The Book of Resolutions 2000, page 202). The conference, the only body that speaks officially for the church, also supported giving FDA full authority to regulate nicotine as a drug.
The President's Commission says the federal government, through price supports and a marketing quota system, has created a situation where more people are involved in tobacco production than the system can support. It recommends compensation for quota owners and growers for their losses and the establishment of a Center for Tobacco-Dependent Community to assist farmers and others in making the transition from tobacco production.
The commission also addressed the public health issue, noting that more than 400,000 people in the United States die annually because of tobacco useage. Congress is asked to grant the FDA the authority to regulate the manufacture, sale, marketing, distribution and labeling of tobacco, but stops short of prohibiting its use among adults. The report also calls for programs that help people stop using tobacco be included in basic Medicaid and Medicare coverage. To pay for the proposals, the commission recommends an increase in federal excise tax on tobacco.
Bishop S. Clifton Ives, Charleston, W.Va., is president of the 57-member body which governs the United Methodist Board of Church and Society. Chief staff executive is Jim Winkler.
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Full text of the board's statement follows:
General Board of Church and Society Supports Presidential Commission's Recommendations on Reforming Federal Tobacco Policy
The General Board of Church and Society of the United Methodist Church strongly supports the report of the President's Commission on Improving Economic Opportunity in Communities Dependent on Tobacco Production While Protecting Public Health, which calls for comprehensive reform of federal tobacco policy. The report says that the federal government has an obligation to address the future of tobacco farmers and their communities as the demand for tobacco products declines, and recommends that Congress should grant the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the authority to regulate tobacco.
The United Methodist Church has long advocated for its members to abstain from using tobacco. In addition, the 2000 General Conference - the only body that speaks officially for the United Methodist Church - urges the Department of Agriculture "to plan for and assist the orderly economic transition of the tobacco industry... into industries more compatible with
the general welfare of the people." (Book of Resolutions 2000, page 202) Furthermore, the General Conference supported efforts to "give the FDA full authority to regulate nicotine as a drug." (Book of Resolutions 2000, page 202)
As the demand for cigarettes and other tobacco products declines, farmers and their families and communities come under economic pressure and stress. Through price supports and a marketing quota system, the federal government has produced a current situation where more people are involved in tobacco production than the system can support. To correct this, the Commission
recommends the adoption of a Tobacco Equity Reduction Program (TERP), compensation for quota owners and growers for their losses, and the establishment of a Center for Tobacco-Dependent Communities to assist farmers and others in these communities in making a transition from tobacco-based economies. This would be funded by an increase in the federal excise tax on tobacco.
The report also addresses the public health toll of tobacco use, which kills more than 400,000 Americans every year. The report says that Congress should grant the FDA the authority to regulate the manufacture, sale, marketing, distribution and labeling of tobacco, but not prohibit its use among adults. Furthermore, cessation programs should be included in basic Medicaid and
Medicare coverage, and to pay for this, the Com-mission's report recommends a 17 percent increase in the federal excise tax on cigarettes.
The General Board of Church and Society embraces the commission's well thought-out and far-reaching recommendations, and urges President George Bush and members of Congress to take heed and act swiftly in implementing tobacco reform.
Only General Conference speaks officially for The United Methodist Church. The General Board of Church and Society is the international public policy and social advocacy agency of the United Methodist Church.
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