October 2014

Defense Secretary Hagel has requested a review of military policy on tobacco. The policy review appears to have come in response to comments made in March by Navy Secretary Ray Mabus that he could foresee a tobacco-free Navy. The comments of Secretary Mabus and the request for a department-wide review of tobacco policy by Secretary Hagel have touched off a round of legislative activity by tobacco supporters to ensure tobacco products remain accessible to military personal.

Representative Duncan Hunter (R-CA) has inserted an amendment into the House Defense authorization bill that would prevent the Department of Defense (DOD) from banning tobacco product sales in military stores. The Hunter amendment was adopted by the House Armed Services committee with broad bipartisan support.

The ATS has communicated with Congress and the Administration our support for the Department of Defense taking concrete steps to reduce tobacco use by military personnel.