Senator Dean Heller (R-NV) signed on as a cosponsor of S. 1461, the companion bill of H.R. 1639 yesterday.
The bills, also known as the Traditional Cigar Manufacturing and Small Business Jobs Preservation Act of 2011, seek to exempt premium cigars from FDA regulation.
Senator Heller previously served as Nevada’s Representative to the Second Congressional District, as Nevada’s Secretary of State for three terms, and in the Nevada State Assembly for two terms.
He currently serves on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee; the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee; and the Special Committee on Aging. Jobs and the economy continue to be Senator Heller’s top priorities.
If the FDA is allowed to regulate the premium cigar industry, it could include changes such as banning walk-in humidors, altering advertisement and store signage, and regulating the blends of tobacco in cigars. The House bill currently has 219 cosponsors, and is above majority.
The Senate bill has 14 cosponsors.
For more information, visit www.ipcpr.org