Why I voted Yes on H.R. 338
I voted Yes on H.R. 338, the Stop Tobacco Smuggling in the Territories Act.
H.R. 338 would bring the U.S. territories of American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam within the jurisdiction of the current federal prohibition on contraband cigarettes and smokeless tobacco. This law bans possession, sale, distribution or purchase of 10,000 or more contraband cigarettes or 500 cans or packages of smokeless tobacco.
Tobacco smuggling is a problem in several U.S. territories and tobacco smuggling can deprive localities of legitimate sales revenue and can lead to greater health problems. Leaders of the impacted U.S. territories have requested that the territories be brought under the current law regarding trafficking contraband tobacco that applies to the states. I support this legislation to crack down on illicit tobacco smuggling in our territories.
The bill was approved by a vote of 421 – 5.
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