SE North Carolina News

Two North Carolina Congressmen, David Rouzer and Don Davis, have sent a bipartisan letter to President Joe Biden expressing their concern over the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) proposed rule to ban menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars. Both congressmen, who are members of the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture, are worried about the potential impact of this ban on working families and farmers in North Carolina.

In the letter, Congressman Rouzer emphasizes the significance of the tobacco industry in North Carolina, stating that it has been instrumental in lifting generations out of poverty and solidifying the state as a global enterprise. He urges President Biden and his administration to consider the immense impact that the ban would have on the communities across the state that have relied on tobacco production for their livelihoods.

Congressman Davis, who has personally experienced the benefits of employment opportunities in the tobacco fields as a young child, echoes Rouzer's concerns. He believes that the proposed ban on menthol cigarettes would not only increase the presence of illicit tobacco products on the market but also leave many eastern North Carolinians without viable employment alternatives. Davis implores the administration to thoroughly consider the cultural, economic, and social effects that such a ban could have on the well-being of North Carolina before implementing it.

The letter further highlights the significant role of the menthol cigarette industry in North Carolina, providing 27,000 jobs in the state alone. The production and sale of menthol cigarettes account for over 6,000 of these jobs, with more than 2,000 in manufacturing. Each of these jobs represents an opportunity for individuals to support their families, buy a home, and provide their children with a college education. If the FDA's proposed ban is approved, all of these jobs and the economic opportunities they bring will be lost, leading to a struggle similar to that experienced during the mass exodus of the textile and furniture industries in the past three decades.

The congressmen's letter serves as a plea to the administration to carefully consider the consequences of the proposed ban on menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars. It emphasizes the importance of preserving the livelihoods of North Carolina's working families and the economic stability of the state. The full letter can be read on Congressman Rouzer's website.

Click this link to access more information: https://rouzer.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1077