wfn.org | Church agency supports federal tobacco policy reform

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.UMC.ORG>]

May 30, 2001 News media contact: Thomas S. McAnally·(615)742-5470·Nashville,
Tenn.     10-21-71B{249}

WASHINGTON (UMNS) -  Comprehensive reform of the U.S. Government's tobacco
policy is being encouraged by the United Methodist Board of Church and
Society, the church's international public policy and social advocacy
agency. 

In a statement issued May 30, the board announced its support of a report
from the President's Commission on Improving Economic Opportunity in
Communities Dependent on Tobacco Production While Protecting Public Health.
The board is also asking President Bush and members of Congress "take heed
and act swiftly in implementing tobacco reform."  

According to the commission's report, the federal government has an
obligation to address the future of tobacco farmers and their communities as
the demand for tobacco products declines.  The commission is also
recommending that Congress grant the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the
authority to regulate tobacco. 

For many years, the United Methodist Church has urged its members to abstain
from using tobacco.  Delegates to the church's General Conference, meeting
in May 2000, urged the Department of Agriculture to "plan for and assist the
orderly economic transition of the tobacco industry . . . into industries
more compatible with the general welfare of the people."  (The Book of
Resolutions 2000, page 202).  The conference, the only body that speaks
officially for the church, also supported giving FDA full authority to
regulate nicotine as a drug.

The President's Commission says the federal government, through price
supports and a marketing quota system, has created a situation where more
people are involved in tobacco production than the system can support.  It
recommends compensation for quota owners and growers for their losses and
the establishment of a Center for Tobacco-Dependent Community to assist
farmers and others in making the transition from tobacco production.  

The commission also addressed the  public health issue, noting that more
than 400,000 people in the United States die annually because of tobacco
useage.  Congress is asked to grant the FDA the authority to regulate the
manufacture, sale, marketing, distribution and labeling of tobacco, but
stops short of prohibiting its use among adults.  The report also calls for
programs that help people stop using tobacco be included in basic Medicaid
and Medicare coverage.  To pay for the proposals, the commission recommends
an increase in federal excise tax on tobacco.

Bishop S. Clifton Ives, Charleston, W.Va., is president of the 57-member
body which governs the United Methodist Board of Church and Society.  Chief
staff executive is Jim Winkler.  

#  #  #

Full text of the board's statement follows:

General Board of Church and Society Supports Presidential Commission's
Recommendations on Reforming Federal Tobacco Policy

The General Board of Church and Society of the United Methodist Church
strongly supports the report of the President's Commission on Improving
Economic Opportunity in Communities Dependent on Tobacco Production While
Protecting Public Health, which calls for  comprehensive reform of federal
tobacco policy. The report says that the federal government has an
obligation to address the future of tobacco farmers and their communities as
the demand for tobacco products declines, and recommends that Congress
should grant the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the authority to
regulate tobacco.

The United Methodist Church has long advocated for its members to abstain
from using tobacco. In addition, the 2000 General Conference - the only body
that speaks officially for the United Methodist Church - urges the
Department of Agriculture "to plan for and assist the orderly economic
transition of the tobacco industry... into industries more compatible with
the general welfare of the people." (Book of Resolutions 2000, page 202)
Furthermore, the General Conference supported efforts to "give the FDA full
authority to regulate nicotine as a drug." (Book of Resolutions 2000, page
202)

As the demand for cigarettes and other tobacco products declines, farmers
and their families and communities come under economic pressure and stress.
Through price supports and a marketing quota system, the federal government
has produced a current situation where more people are involved in tobacco
production than the system can support. To correct this, the Commission
recommends the adoption of a Tobacco Equity Reduction Program (TERP),
compensation for quota owners and growers for their losses, and the
establishment of a Center for Tobacco-Dependent Communities to assist
farmers and others in these communities in making a transition from
tobacco-based economies. This would be funded by an increase in the federal
excise tax on tobacco.

The report also addresses the public health toll of tobacco use, which kills
more than 400,000 Americans every year. The report says that Congress should
grant the FDA the authority to regulate the manufacture, sale, marketing,
distribution and labeling of tobacco, but not prohibit its use among adults.
Furthermore, cessation programs should be included in basic Medicaid and
Medicare coverage, and to pay for this, the Com-mission's report recommends
a 17 percent increase in the federal excise tax on cigarettes.

The General Board of Church and Society embraces the commission's well
thought-out and far-reaching recommendations, and urges President George
Bush and members of Congress to take heed and act swiftly in implementing
tobacco reform.

Only General Conference speaks officially for The United Methodist Church.
The General Board of Church and Society is the international public policy
and social advocacy agency of the United Methodist Church.

#  #  #

*************************************
United Methodist News Service
Photos and stories also available at:
http://umns.umc.org