Congress is reportedly ready to ban tobacco sales to anyone under 21
An industry-transforming policy is reportedly arriving before the year ends.
A proposal to install a federal ban on tobacco sales to anyone under 21 has bipartisan support in the Senate, with even Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) saying earlier this year he'd introduce legislation limiting the sales. But it now seems he won't need a separate bill, as the Senate plans to include the provision in this year's federal spending bill, sources in both parties tell Politico.
Tobacco products for both cigarettes and e-cigarettes will be subject to the heightened age threshold, four people familiar with the matter tell Politico. The provision was supposed to be included with earlier health-related measures, but got held up in partisan fights. The measure has support from senators on both sides of the aisle, including Sens. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), and Mitt Romney (R-Utah).
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Congressional leaders have already tentatively agreed to a plan to fund the government through fiscal year 2020, Politico reported in November. A stopgap spending bill extended the current government funding provisions until Dec. 20 of this year. Other policy changes and local funding packages will likely be snuck into the spending bill as conditions for some lawmakers' support, though the tobacco age raise may be the most significant nationwide. Federal law currently sets the tobacco sales age limit at 18, though some states and local municipalities have made it higher.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.
-
House GOP unveils bill for Trump to buy Greenland
Speed Read The bill would allow the U.S. to purchase the Danish territory — or procure it through economic or military force
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
DOJ releases Trump Jan. 6 special counsel report
Speed Read Jack Smith's report details the president-elect's "criminal efforts to retain power" amid the 2020 election
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Israel, Hamas and US say cease-fire deal close
Speed Read A high-level cease-fire negotiation is gaining momentum in Biden's final week as president
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US port strike averted with tentative labor deal
Speed Read The strike could have shut down major ports from Texas to Maine
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Biden expected to block Japanese bid for US Steel
Speed Read The president is blocking the $14 billion acquisition of U.S. Steel by Japan's Nippon Steel, citing national security concerns
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Judges block $25B Kroger-Albertsons merger
Speed Read The proposed merger between the supermarket giants was stalled when judges overseeing two separate cases blocked the deal
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Rupert Murdoch loses 'Succession' court battle
Speed Read Murdoch wanted to give full control of his empire to son Lachlan, ensuring Fox News' right-wing editorial slant
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Bitcoin surges above $100k in post-election rally
Speed Read Investors are betting that the incoming Trump administration will embrace crypto
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Enron mystery: 'sick joke' or serious revival?
Speed Read 23 years after its bankruptcy filing, the Texas energy firm has announced its resurrection
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US charges Indian tycoon with bribery, fraud
Speed Read Indian billionaire Gautam Adani has been indicted by US prosecutors for his role in a $265 million scheme to secure solar energy deals
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Boeing machinists approve contract, end strike
Speed Read The company's largest union approved the new contract offer, ending a seven-week strike
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published