In September, the ATS joined over 30 public health and medical organizations in a sign-on letter to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and other Congressional leadership supporting the inclusion of increased federal excise taxes on tobacco products in the budget reconciliation bill being considered by Congress.  The letter notes that raising the price of tobacco products, including through increased taxes, is one of the most effective ways to reduce use and that youth, in particular, are price sensitive.   

The tobacco tax provision would raise the federal excise tax on cigarettes $2.01 per pack, raise the tobacco excise tax on all other tobacco products to an equivalent level to the cigarette tax and create the first-ever federal excise tax on e-cigarette products.  The tobacco tax provisions are expected to raise an estimated $96 billion in tax revenue over 10 years.