For over a decade, Rep. Waxman has been investigating the tobacco industry and its efforts to manipulate nicotine and addict children. These investigations included the 1994 hearing at which the tobacco company CEOs testified that nicotine was not addictive, which Rep. Waxman chaired when he headed the Health and the Environment Subcommittee of the Energy and Commerce Committee. They also included the release of multiple investigative reports by Rep. Waxman as Ranking Member of the Oversight Committee.

A major goal of Chairman Waxman’s oversight efforts – authorizing FDA to regulate tobacco products – achieved a milestone on July 30, 2008, when the House passed the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (H.R. 1108) by a margin of more than three to one. This bill, which was introduced by Chairman Waxman and Ranking Member Davis, directs FDA to regulate the marketing and manufacture of tobacco
products.