H-17.1: End FDA Propaganda Act (Tabled)

[Sirius_]

AN ACT

To end funding for the "Real Cost" campaign and other ineffective drug propaganda.

I. Short Title
1. This bill may be referred to as the "End FDA Propaganda Act"
II. Findings
1. Information regarding the effectiveness of the campaign is limited only to the FDA themselves, in a non-peer reviewed report.
2. Massive anti-drug campaigns in the past have been ineffective and likely increased drug usage and youth resentment.
3. "Real Cost" advertisements are overly grotesque and do not offer credible reasoning.
4. Recent claims made by the campaign against e-cigarettes have made bold claims with limited to no evidence supporting their supposed detriments.
5. The campaign is, in essence, propaganda which should not have a place in Atlasia.
6. These funds would be better allocated for treatment.
III. Actions
1. All funding for the "Real Cost" campaign is hereby suspended.
2. No funds shall be allocated for similar advertisement campaigns through fiscal year 2030.
IV. Timing
1. This act takes effect at the start of fiscal year 2020.

Sponsor: Ninja0428
Designation: H-17.1

I hereby open the floor for debate.

[Sirius_]

If you read the findings, it should be clear why such programs are a waste of money. This bill defunds them, returning that us and can be used for better purposes.

[Coastal Elitist]

I'm firmly against this. E-cigarettes, vaping is harmful to your health and people need to be educated about that.

 “The Real Cost” prevented an estimated 350,000 teens ages 11 to 18 from initiating smoking between 2014 and 2016
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/66/wr/mm6602a2.htm?s_cid=mm6602a2_w

 the campaign has saved them, their families, and the country more than $31 billion by reducing smoking-related costs like early loss of life, costly medical care, lost wages, lower productivity, and increased disability.
https://www.ajpmonline.org/article/S0749-3797(18)31877-4/fulltext

the campaign changed teens’ perceptions and beliefs about tobacco, ultimately resulting in a 30 percent decrease in youth smoking initiation from 2014 to 2016.
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/66/wr/mm6602a2.htm?s_cid=mm6602a2_w

[P. Clodius Pulcher did nothing wrong]

I agree with Tea Party Hater on this. While there may be an argument that this is outside the purview of government, I disagree with section II.5.

I also thank TPH for bringing up evidence to show that section II.2 is flat-out incorrect.

Section III.2 is concerning, since a decade-long ban on "similar" content to drug abuse prevention media could result in even greater levels of minors abusing things like e-cigarettes

[JGibson]

Based on what my colleagues Razze and Tea Party Hater have to say on this bill, I will likely end up voting no on this.

[F. Joe Haydn]

I oppose this bill. E-cigarettes are dangerous and harmful devices and ought to be discouraged. The growth of e-cigarette use, among adolescents in particular, is a deeply disturbing trend which the government should do its best to put a stop to. Furthermore, e-cigarette manufacturers intentionally target children in their advertising ploys, even though it is illegal for minors to use such devices.

[#TheShadowyAbyss]

I echo the sentiments of my fellow esteemed colleagues. We know vaping and e-cig usage is indeed very harmful and studies have shown it increases the likelihood of transitioning to regular cig consumption. I will be a firm NO on this.

[#TheShadowyAbyss]

Since it appears the majority of this House is already opposed to this bill, I motion to table this bill.

[Sirius_]

In accordance with HR 1378 this bill's designation has been changed to H-17.1

[Sirius_]

A vote to table is now open. Representatives have 48 hours, please vote AYE, NAY, or ABSTAIN.

[Sirius_]

Nay

[At-Large Senator LouisvilleThunder]

Nay

[CMB222]

Aye

[Coastal Elitist]

Aye

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Not to be pedantic (as much as I love being that) and yes I realize this bill is being tabled, but proper form dictates that I note that a bill being debated before the House, doesn't constitute an "Act" until it has passed both chambers, at least as far as Atlasian parlance is concerned.

[#TheShadowyAbyss]

Aye

[Vern]

Aye

[Sirius_]

Not to be pedantic (as much as I love being that) and yes I realize this bill is being tabled, but proper form dictates that I note that a bill being debated before the House, doesn't constitute an "Act" until it has passed both chambers, at least as far as Atlasian parlance is concerned.

I'm not exactly sure what you mean here? It's generally typical for threads to be titled "act", you do it with your threads.

[P. Clodius Pulcher did nothing wrong]

Abstain

[F. Joe Haydn]

Aye

[JGibson]

AYE

[Sirius_]

The vote to table is now closed.

Aye (6): CMB, TPH, TSA, Vern, Wallace, JGibson
Nay (2): Ninja, LT
Abstaining (1): Razze

This bill has been tabled.