Reaffirming support of fundamental United States principles at the United Nations and encouraging the World Health Organization to embrace technological advancements in tobacco control.

IV 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION H. RES. 896 Reaffirming support of fundamental United States principles at the United Nations and encouraging the World Health Organization to embrace technological advancements in tobacco control. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MARCH 11, 2020 Mr. RESCHENTHALER submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs RESOLUTION Reaffirming support of fundamental United States principles at the United Nations and encouraging the World Health Organization to embrace technological advancements in tobacco control. Whereas the United Nations was established in part as a global forum to convene disparate parties, resolve dis- putes, and establish policy recommendations in a fair, eq- uitable, and transparent manner; Whereas the World Health Organization, an affiliated organi- zation of the United Nations, develops policy rec- ommendations that severely restrict, or de facto prohibit, interaction with legal private enterprise and thereby pro- vides no recourse or opportunity for input to those im- pacted entities; VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:32 Mar 12, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR896.IH HR896 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •HRES 896 IH Whereas, in 2016, the World Health Organization adopted the Framework of Engagement with Non-State Actors, commonly known as FENSA, which, by design, effec- tively discourages interaction with the private sector; Whereas the World Health Organization is actively targeting major American industries, including agriculture, food and beverage, and pharmacology, with onerous global regulations, and the World Health Organization’s policies targeting the tobacco sector outright prohibit communica- tion, engagement, or opportunity for partnership; Whereas the World Health Organization is actively pres- suring the entire United Nations system, including the United Nations Secretary-General, International Labor Organization, Food and Agriculture Organization, Eco- nomic and Social Council, World Bank, and International Monetary Fund, among others, to adopt similar policies with respect to the tobacco sector; Whereas the People’s Republic of China owns China National Tobacco Corporation, the largest tobacco company in the world, and this does not disqualify the People’s Republic of China from engaging in dialogue with and receiving funds from the World Health Organization; Whereas the World Health Organization’s tobacco policy rec- ommendations fail to acknowledge that available science, technology, and innovation can accelerate the decline of cigarette smoking worldwide and reduce smoking-related death and disease; Whereas although the best health outcome for current smok- ers is to quit nicotine altogether, the reality is that less than 10 percent of adult smokers will successfully quit cigarettes in a given year; VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:32 Mar 12, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR896.IH HR896 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 3 •HRES 896 IH Whereas the Food and Drug Administration’s tobacco control policy recognizes this reality and provides global health regulators a pathway forward to move adult smokers down the continuum of risk; Whereas pursuant to the bipartisan Family Smoking Preven- tion and Tobacco Control Act, the Food and Drug Ad- ministration (FDA) follows an inclusive, transparent reg- ulatory framework that promotes innovation in tobacco products based on a rigorous scientific evaluation, includ- ing minimizing unintended use of such products by non- smokers, former smokers, and youth, where only those products determined to be ‘‘appropriate for the protection of public health’’ receive FDA authorization; Whereas the FDA regularly engages the private sector in an open and transparent manner regarding the development of such innovative products; Whereas the World Health Organization continues to cite an irreconcilable and inherent conflict to prohibit any en- gagement with or input from the tobacco sector and does not acknowledge the Food and Drug Administration’s re- view and regulation of science, technology, and innovation that can potentially reduce the harms associated with cig- arette smoking; and Whereas policies based on the exclusion of any industry for which they seek to regulate do not advance sound health policy, and are antithetical to fundamental United States values of equal protection, free speech, due process, and the right to petition: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives directs 1 the Department of State and the Department of Health 2 and Human Services to encourage the United Nations and 3 VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:32 Mar 12, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HR896.IH HR896 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 4 •HRES 896 IH the World Health Organization, respectively, to adopt poli- 1 cies that recognize the rights of disparate parties and sci- 2 entific determinations of the Food and Drug Administra- 3 tion to advance technology and innovation that can reduce 4 the burden of death and disease caused from cigarette 5 smoking. 6 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:32 Mar 12, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\HR896.IH HR896 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS