Coalition to Stop Contraband Tobacco Applauds President Obama for Signing the 'Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking Act of 2009'

WASHINGTON, March 31 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Coalition to Stop Contraband Tobacco today praised President Barack Obama for signing S. 1147, the Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking (PACT) Act of 2009 into law. This new law will help combat illegal, online cigarette sales that have robbed states of hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenues and that undermine state laws that prevent America's youth from gaining access to tobacco products.  

"With the PACT Act becoming law, President Obama and Congress prove their shared commitment to keeping tobacco out of kid's hands," said Scott Ramminger, AWMA president and CEO and coalition spokesperson. "President Obama, Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY) and Sen. Herb Kohl (D-WI) deserve credit for helping curtail the illegal activities and capturing lost state revenues associated with contraband tobacco."

A broad coalition of more than 180 groups, individuals and other stakeholders worked with House and Senate leaders through the years to pass the PACT Act. The PACT Act closes gaps in current federal laws regulating Internet and other remote sales of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products.

"After a long journey to get to this day, this bill is a win for law enforcement, retailers, and state tax advocates," continued Ramminger.

The Coalition to Stop Contraband Tobacco is a group of individuals, associations, businesses and other organizations that share the goal of enacting legislation that will eliminate underage access to tobacco on the Internet, curtail associated illegal activities and capture lost state excise tax revenues.

SOURCE Coalition to Stop Contraband Tobacco