It took more than a decade but the Senate has passed sweeping legislation to give the FDA authority to regulate nicotine and tobacco advertising. Stopping tobacco use is the mother of all preventive health measures. And prevention is a big missing link in our current health care system—you know, the system we want to change.

The vote was a strong bipartisan 79-17. That's a good omen for those of us who would like to see some bipartisanship on health care reform (in an era when we are not seeing a lot of bipartisanship.). 

Matt Myers, president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, (whom I have known for many years and who has toiled longer and harder for this moment than anyone I can think of), said:

Tobacco use kills more than 400,000 Americans each year, sickens millions more and costs the nation $96 billion annually in health care bills. Yet until now tobacco products have escaped the FDA's common-sense regulations that apply to every other produce we consume.. The lack of regulation has allowed tobacco companies to market their deadly and addictive products to children, deceive consumers about the harm their products cause and manipulate their products in ways that make them even more harmful and addictive. This legislation will at long last stop these harmful practices.

The bill will grant the FDA the power to regulate the manufacturing, marketing and sale of tobacco products and:

• Prevent tobacco advertising which targets children;
• Require tobacco companies to disclose contents of their products;
• Prevent the sale of tobacco products to minors;
• Expand and enlarge warnings on the packages on the health risks of smoking;
• Help smokers overcome their addiction;
• Make tobacco products less toxic and less addictive for those who continue to use them, and let the FDA requre changes including removal of harmful ingredients, and the reduction of nicotine;
• Prohibit unsubstantiated health claims about supposedly "reduced risk" products such as "light" or "Low tar" cigarettes;
• Stop the tobacco industry from misleading the public about the dangers of smoking;
• Fully fund the FDA tobacco programs with a user fee on the industry;

The House already passed similiar legislation (also a strong bipartisan vote) and a final version is likely to go to President Obama—a former (we hope) smoker—for his signature soon.