Senator Rubio Fights for Small Businesses

July 20, 2017

Senator Rubio Fights for Small Businesses and the Premium Cigar Industry in Appropriations Hearing

Earlier today, Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) stood up for premium cigar retailers and manufacturers around the country in a speech before the Senate Appropriations Committee. During consideration of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 Agriculture Appropriations Bill, which funds the FDA, Senator Rubio urged his colleagues to support a provision that acutely defines premium cigars and exempts them from current FDA regulations. 

Despite bi-partisan and bi-cameral support, the Senator stated his disappointment that the Senate bill currently does not contain the language but implores his colleagues to address it soon. As he put it, "The industry's future is at stake...I truly think it's a matter of fairness." The House's Agriculture Appropriations bill contains the cigar exemption provision. 

An issue of great importance to his constituents in Florida and around the country, Senator Rubio implored his colleagues to understand the true impacts of current FDA regulations. "This isn't about curtailing tobacco use, because it's already on the decline. This is about thousands of small businesses and their employees that frankly have done nothing wrong but now the government is singling them out."

Responding to concerns over youth use of tobacco, Senator Rubio offered the following. "We all share the goal of eliminating underage tobacco use and it is already illegal to sell tobacco to anyone under 18 years of age." He rightly pointed out that there is no such problem amongst premium cigars, "(this) is not a product that either preys on, seeks to market to or has a problem with underage use." Rubio added that the premium cigar industry "has done nothing wrong and in my view is being treated unfairly."

In addition to Senator Rubio--Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) declared his support on this critical issue. While urging opponents of exemption to speak frankly and openly with the tobacco retailers and constituents in their states, Manchin continued laying out the case for premium cigar exemption. "I'm all for curtailing addiction to tobacco use but...You don't see kids going around smoking these fine cigars. It supports such a robust business...It does not add to any type of addiction of support any type of addiction."

IPCPR strongly supports and commends Senator Rubio for taking a stand against punishing government regulations that threaten our retailers and the industry. "Having a Member of Congress the caliber of Senator Rubio stand up and advocate on behalf of retailers, manufacturers and the thousands of jobs at stake is a tremendous boost to this industry. Floridians and retailers across the country are proud to have him as a true supporter" said Ken Neumann, President of IPCPR's Board of Directors. Neumann also applauds Senator Manchin's comments, noting that they demonstrate the bi-partisan nature of this issue. 

IPCPR will continue to fight on behlaf of their retailers on capitol hill and pursue legislative solutions to this crippling rule. For more information or any questions on this issue, please contact Daniel Trope, IPCPR Director of Federal Government Affairs at .