Groups highlight the need for the Senate to immediately pass S. 1147
Jump to full article: Coalition to Stop Contraband Tobacco, 2009-11-17
Intro: Representatives of law enforcement groups, public health organizations and trade
associations today gathered on Capitol Hill to urge the Senate to pass S. 1147, the Prevent All Cigarette
Trafficking Act of 2009 (PACT Act). This legislation will help combat online cigarette sales that have
robbed hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenues from the states and that undermine state laws
that prevent youth access to tobacco products. This bill closes gaps in current federal laws regulating
“remote” or “delivery” sales of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products.
These organizations were joined by Sen. Herb Kohl (D‐WI) and Rep. Anthony Weiner (D‐NY), advocates
of combating illegal cigarette sales. Numerous stakeholders have worked with Sen. Kohl through the
years to pass the PACT Act, which was passed in the House of Representatives this May.
“The PACT Act will strengthen our tobacco laws to ensure that law enforcement has the tools they need
to investigate and prosecute cigarette traffickers, said Sen. Kohl. “Each day we delay its passage,
terrorists and criminals raise more money, states lose significant amounts of tax revenue, and kids have
easy access to tobacco products sold over the internet.” . . .
Organizations represented at the press conference included the National Association of Convenience
Stores, American Wholesale Marketers Association, National Black Police Association and Campaign for
Tobacco Free Kids. . . .
The American Wholesale Marketers Association also released its latest findings from a study it
conducted examining the prevalence of illegal Internet cigarette sales and the cost to the country. In
the study AWMA found the cost to states in illegal cigarette sales could be upwards of $5 billion per
year, and that with online sales there is almost no age verification at the time of purchase.
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