Westmoreland Review

Chief Deputy Whip Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA) and Representative Don Davis (D-NC) have introduced a resolution in support of tobacco harm reduction. The resolution, known as H.Res. 979, calls for the adoption of harm reduction methods and American innovation as part of a comprehensive approach to tobacco control.

In a statement, Reschenthaler expressed concern about the negative impact of a potential ban on smoke-free nicotine products. He stated, "As Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer calls for a ban on smoke-free nicotine products, his misguided rhetoric will hurt public health and consumer choice in the marketplace. Conversely, this commonsense resolution will help support tobacco harm reduction efforts, which will reduce the occurrence of smoking-related diseases among Americans and help alleviate preventable diseases in our public healthcare system. I urge my colleagues to support this critical resolution."

Davis, who serves as co-chair of the Tobacco Harm Reduction Caucus, emphasized the importance of the tobacco industry to North Carolina's economy. He said, "The tobacco industry remains a core pillar of North Carolina’s economy. As Co-Chair of the Tobacco Harm Reduction Caucus, I am proud to support H.Res. 979, expressing support for tobacco harm reduction strategies. We must tap into American innovation to embrace tobacco products that will enhance the well-being of over 30 million smokers across our nation."

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are approximately 28.3 million regular cigarette smokers in the United States, with over 16 million Americans living with smoking-related diseases. These figures disproportionately impact low-income and veteran populations. The CDC estimates that approximately 20 out of every 100 adults with a household income less than $35,000 identify as current smokers, and smoking rates among U.S. veterans are more than double the national average.

While the CDC promotes the Surgeon General's recommendation that consumers end their use of tobacco products, the agency's estimates show that less than 10 percent of adult smokers successfully quit each year. The resolution introduced by Reschenthaler and Davis encourages public health authorities, such as the CDC, to educate adult consumers and healthcare professionals on the benefits of harm reduction.

The resolution also urges the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to prioritize the authorization of less harmful smoke-free alternatives and to encourage American innovation in this field. The FDA has authorized less than 50 out of more than 26 million tobacco product applications since 2009. By updating the tobacco product review process with clear frameworks, the resolution aims to provide greater consumer access to healthier alternatives to smoking and limit the supply of unapproved, potentially dangerous products in the U.S. marketplace.

The bipartisan Tobacco Harm Reduction Caucus, founded by Reschenthaler and former Representative Kurt Schrader (D-OR) last Congress, was reconstituted in 2023 under the current co-chairs Reschenthaler and Davis. The caucus serves as a forum to address various aspects of the public health debate surrounding tobacco, including underage use and prevention, improving public understanding of less harmful alternative products, and regulatory processes governing these products.

The full text of the resolution can be found on the official website.