Jump to full article: News Radio 930 WBEN (Buffalo, NY), 2010-03-12
Intro: A late night vote in the U-S Senate could threaten a portion of the Seneca Nation of Indians cigarette business. Senators voted unanimously to ban the U-S Postal Service from mailing tobacco products. . . .
The complete statement from the Seneca Nation of Indians:
CATTARAUGUS TERRITORY, NY -- Members of the Seneca Nation Council and the Foreign Relations Committee emphatically opposed action taken by the United States Senate yesterday which voted to pass the Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking Act (PACT Act). The measure, which now goes to the House for a vote, would prohibit tobacco products produced and sold by Native American businesses to be mailed through the US Postal Service.
Richard Nephew, the Chair of Seneca Nation Council and CoChair of the Foreign Relations Committee said that the Senate's action will cost Western New York more than 1,000 tobacco industry jobs, jobs held by Native and non-Native alike. "The PACT Act will deal a destructive blow to the private sector economy at the Seneca Nation and have negative repercussive effects on all of Western New York," said Councilor Nephew.
"The passage of the PACT Act should draw outrage and opposition from every corner of Indian Country. This is not so much about tobacco consumption as it is about who profits from it. Aside from tobacco, all Indian nations should be concerned about the federal government's attempt to confer further jurisdictional power to states over Indian Territories; this invites much trouble."
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