Bill Introduced in House of Representatives to
Exempt Premium Cigars From FDA Regulation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 25, 2019
Contact

Glynn Loope
Phone: 202.469.3444
Email: glynn.loope@cigarrights.org


Cody Carden
Phone: 202.469.3444
Email: cody.carden@cigarrights.org

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Kathy Castor (D-FL) introduced the Traditional Cigar Manufacturing and Small Business Jobs Preservation Act of 2019 ("HR 1854"), which calls for a premium cigar exemption from regulation by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration ("FDA").

Glynn Loope, executive director of Cigar Rights of America ("CRA"), stated the following on the introduction of HR 1854, "Congresswoman Castor's bi-partisan coalition on this legislation will work to be a platform for communicating to the Trump Administration and congress that regulating premium cigars is a case study in bureaucratic overreach that goes beyond the Congressional intent of the Tobacco Control Act."  Loope continued, "We look forward to briefing members from both sides of the aisle as to the intent of HR 1854 and as to why the existing regulatory overreach on premium cigars needs to be reformed, taking into account the studies and data presented following the most recent FDA public comment period, which closed July 25, 2018."

At its introduction, the bill has strong bi-partisan support with the following 30 original co-sponsors on the legislation - Rep. Bill Posey (R-FL), Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT), Rep. Kurt Schrader (D-OR), Rep. Charlie Crist (D-FL), Rep. Sanford Bishop (D-GA), Rep. Stephanie Murphy (D-FL), Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV), Rep. Tony Cardenas (D-CA), Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA), Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO), Rep. George Holding (R-NC), Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA), Rep. Ted Budd (R-NC), Rep. Francis Rooney (R-FL), Rep. Don Young (R-AK), Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Rep. Tom Emmer (R-MN), Rep. Alex Mooney (R-WV), Rep. Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA), Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD), Rep. Steve Womack (R-AR), Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL), Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA), Rep. Roger Williams (R-TX), Rep. Michael Turner (R-OH), Rep. Jim Hagedorn (R-MN), Rep. Brian Babin (R-TX), Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL), Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WA), and Bill Huizenga (R-MI).   

CRA applaud's Congresswoman Castor and each of the original co-sponsors on the bill for their continued work and support of small businesses from Main Street America, to our international trading partners throughout Latin America and the Caribbean Basin.  

CRA also expresses its appreciation to Congressman Bill Posey for his leadership on premium cigar exemption legislation over the course of the last four sessions, which lead to the successful passage of exemption language by the U.S. House of Representatives, and numerous other successful placements of language in appropriations measures, which has worked to convey the unique message of the premium handmade cigar industry. 

CRA will be actively working to support S. 9 as introduced by Florida Senator Marco Rubio, and supported by eleven of his Senate colleagues.  

Loope added, "S 9 and HR 1854 will compliment our ongoing messaging to the President's Administration and appropriate agencies and offices that premium handmade cigars do not warrant the level of regulation proposed to date. While the numerous delays granted by the court and agency are a source of relief, we are working diligently to remove the regulatory cloud that looms over the premium cigar industry."

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