Frank Pallone: “this year Congress has been the do-nothing Congress. The Republican leadership sits idle while each day 3,000 children…”

“this year Congress has been the do-nothing Congress. The Republican leadership sits idle while each day 3,000 children get hooked on tobacco products. Of those, 1,000 who start today will die early because of tobacco-related diseases. This is an epidemic that deserves congressional action now. While the Republican leadership continues to cash in on big tobacco campaign contributions, Democrats today will roll out legislation that stops tobacco companies dead in their tracks from peddling their poison to children. So far in this Congress we have managed to rename airports, post offices and public buildings. Congress needs to step up to the plate and pass tobacco legislation for America's children. The evidence is clear: Big tobacco has pushed their product onto children. Democrats are fighting to prevent tobacco companies from this nasty habit. The Republican leadership would rather protect their special interest friends than protect the Nation's children from joining the tobacco ranks. The American people will not stand for this inaction.”