The U.S. House of Representatives cleared a bill which would give the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authority to regulate tobacco products. The bill still needs the approval of the senate, though the Bush administration opposes the bill. The White House said the legislation would "put an enormous burden on the FDA and could be perceived by the public as an endorsement that these products are safe, resulting in more people smoking." It issued a statement voicing "serious concerns" about the bill and said advisers would ask for a presidential veto, but the House's 326-102 vote shows it could get the two-thirds majority needed to override a veto.

John Seffrin, head of the American Cancer Society said, "This … has the potential to save more lives than any other public health legislation in the past 50 years." If the bill goes through, it would require tobacco companies to carry larger warning labels, ban candy flavoring and lower nicotine levels along with limiting their advertisements.

They would also be required to disclose the content of their products, stop sales terms such as "light," "mild" and "low-tar", mandatory warning labels on 30% of a cigarette pack and allow the FDA removal or reduction of harmful ingredients.

Public health groups and many Democrats felt the bill would help curtail smoking in the younger generation, prevent heart disease and reduce rising health-care costs. Rep. John Dingell, a Michigan Democrat who chairs the House Energy and Commerce Committee said, "With this legislation, we will place sharp and sorely needed limits on access to tobacco products and on tobacco advertising and marketing."

Some tobacco companies feel the bill could spur industry consolidation as the bigger companies would be able to comply and therefore are against it. The Lorillard Tobacco Company, manufacturers of Newport, Kent and other brands, supports reasonable federal regulation of the tobacco industry, issued a statement saying it was "disappointed" with the House vote. Lorillard believes "the FDA is already overburdened and is the wrong agency to carry out this enormous task," it said.