Washington, DC-With the addition of Representative Heath Shuler (D-NC-11) and Representative Nan Hayworth (R-NY-19), the Traditional Cigar Manufacturing and Small Business Jobs Preservation Act of 2011 (H.R. 1639) now boasts the strength of 210 Representatives behind it. The bill, along with its sister bill in the Senate (S. 1461), seeks to curtail proposed FDA regulation of premium cigars.

Representative Shuler, a former NFL quarterback, as well as Representative Hayworth, a doctor, ophthalmologist, and assistant clinical professor, both knows the effects of tobacco and why premium cigars, which are only made with whole tobacco leaf, are vastly different from cigarettes and other tobacco products.

With the FDA's proposed new jurisdiction, they would have the ability to completely alter the way premium cigars are blended, produced and sold, even going as far as having the ability to take the word "cigar" out of advertisements and ban walk-in humidors. This, in the opinion of the IPCPR, is the demonization of completely legal and non-addictive product and could seriously harm the industry.

"The FDA has the potential to take away a choice that is completely my own. The level of control that the FDA could dictate would have a devastating impact on the way brick and mortar cigar stores sell their celebratory products. Small business and the jobs we provide are the backbone of America and more regulations from FDA on the products we sell benefit no one," said Craig Cass, owner of Tinder Box and Tobacco Trader in Charlotte, North Carolina as well as the 2nd Vice President of the IPCPR.

Rob Roth, owner of Nice Ash Cigars & Lounge in New York and a member of the New York Tobacconist Association as well as an IPCPR board member had this to add "As we continue our outreach, more and more congressmen and women are realizing the effect that this legislation would have on small mom-and-pop tobacconists all throughout this country. These bills in the House and Senate are simply standing up for small businesses."

Deliberations in the House and Senate continue. To get involved, go to www.ipcpr.org.

This article was written by Kyle Whalen. Kyle is the Public Relations Manager for the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association and can be reached at kyle@ipcpr.org. More information can be found online at www.ipcpr.org.

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FRANKFORT - July 20, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today signed four new laws to improve road safety across Illinois by reducing speeding and distracted driving. The governor was joined by legislators, community leaders and families of crash victims to enact Julie's Law, named after a Chicago-area crash victim, and several additional laws that restrict cell phone usage in school and construction zones. Today's action is the latest by Governor Quinn to increase safety on Illinois roads and highways.

"By working together, we can deter reckless driving behavior and create safer roads across our state," Governor Quinn said. "These new laws will protect children and families, and prevent dangerous trends such as speeding and distracted driving."

Senate Bill 2888, also known as Julie's Law, is sponsored by Sen. Maggie Crotty (D-Oak Forest) and Rep. Sidney Mathias (R-Arlington Heights). The law prohibits courts from granting supervision to any defendant charged with operating a vehicle on a highway at a speed greater than 30 mph over the posted speed limit, or in excess of 25 mph in an urban district.

Julie's Law is named after Orland Park teen Julie Gorczysnski, who lost her life in 2011 after being struck by a speeding driver going 76 mph in a 40 mph zone. The driver who collided with Gorczysnski's car had previously been placed on court supervision seven times for excessive speeding. The law is effective Jul. 1, 2013.

"A young woman in my district was killed in an accident caused by someone who should have never been behind the wheel at all," Sen. Crotty said. "This law will help make sure that no family will have to endure the loss of a loved one in the way that has befallen the Gorczysnski family."

"This legislation addresses motorists who are pulled over for driving more than 25 miles over the speed limit in urban areas and more than 30 miles an hour over on highways," Rep. Mathias said. "It is my hope that the more stringent penalties will serve as a deterrent for motorists who put their lives and the lives of others at risk by driving too fast."

Governor Quinn also signed additional laws to improve traffic safety today. Senate Bill 2488, sponsored by Sen. Susan Garrett (D-Highwood) and Rep. Karen May (D-Highwood), expands the definition of construction and maintenance work zones to include areas where Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) or a local agency has posted signage advising motorists of an approaching speed zone. This expansion prohibits the use of cell phones in all roadway work zones, which will prevent distracted driving and increase protection for work crews. Previously, the use of cell phones was only prohibited in work zones with speed limit reductions. The law is effective Jan. 1, 2013.

House Bill 5099, sponsored by Rep. Jerry Costello, II (D-Sparta) and Sen. William Haine (D-Alton), prohibits motorists from using mobile phones when driving within 500 feet of an emergency scene, and expands the definition of "electronic message." The legislation will reduce distracted driving by banning talking and taking photos on a mobile device near an emergency scene. The law is effective immediately.

House Bill 5101, sponsored by Rep. John D'Amico (D-Chicago) and Sen. Martin Sandoval (D-Cicero), brings the Illinois Vehicle Code (IVC) into compliance with federal regulations, and prohibits a commercial motor vehicle operator from using a hand-held mobile phone or engaging in texting while driving. The legislation also amends the code to include texting or using a hand-held mobile device as a "serious traffic violation." The law is effective Jan. 1, 2013.

"Our goal is to drive zero fatalities to reality, and these new measures take us another step in the right direction," said Illinois Transportation Secretary Ann L. Schneider.

For more information about traffic safety, visit www.dot.state.il.us.

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CARBONDALE - Lt. Governor Sheila Simon will host a media call-in Tuesday afternoon with Audrey Rowe, Administrator of the United States Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service, to announce that up to 50 farmers' markets across Illinois will receive free wireless machines that accept Link, debit and credit cards as part of the Illinois Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) Wireless Project. With these markets coming aboard, one in three farmers' markets statewide will accept food stamp benefits for the first time.

Simon and Rowe will be joined on the call by Connie Spreen, the executive director of the Chicago non-profit Experimental Station, and vegetable farmers Cheryl and Josh Dotson of Dotson Farms in Beecher, a mother-son team that sells produce at several farmers' markets in Chicago. Simon and Rowe will explain the wireless grant program and discuss USDA efforts to boost access to local foods and the impact that can have on the health of citizens and the economy.

DATE: Tuesday, July 24

TIME: 1 - 2 p.m.

DIAL-IN: 888-455-0739

PASSCODE: FNS (Given Verbally)

Trouble number: 202-720-8560

All callers using the above pass code will be placed in listen only mode. To join the Q&A portion of the meeting, these callers are instructed to press *1 on their touch tone phone.

Failing to pass a Farm Bill will only make impact of drought worse

Washington, D.C. - Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) today authored a letter so-signed by all five members of Iowa's Congressional delegation and sent to House leaders asking for an immediate vote on the bipartisan Farm Bill, especially in light of the worsening drought affecting Iowa and the Midwest.

Even though the House Agriculture Committee passed a version of the Farm Bill that earned bipartisan support last week, House Speaker John Boehner has not signaled when the bill will come to the full House for consideration.  The Senate passed their version of the Food, Farm and Jobs Bill last month.

"Iowa farmers are struggling through the worst drought in decades, and failing to pass a Farm Bill would only compound the problem they face," Braley said.  "Much of the disaster assistance funding in the 2008 Farm Bill has already expired, leaving many farmers without a safety net this year.  If Congress fails to act by September 30^th, the Farm Bill will expire and revert to the outdated 1949 Farm Bill.

"Just like millions of small businesses around America, farmers need certainty and confidence in the farm safety net they depend on.  Now more than ever, getting the Farm Bill done is too important for political games."

Last night, Braley hosted a telephone town hall with Iowa farmers to discuss the Farm Bill and the impact of this year's drought.

Braley has hosted a dozen listening sessions on the Food, Farm and Job Bill across eastern Iowa this summer. The listening sessions have taken Braley to Grinnell, Independence, Manchester, Marengo, Marshalltown, Peosta, St. Ansgar, Strawberry Point, Toledo, and Vinton.  Also, Braley joined USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack at listening session events in Maquoketa and Cedar Rapids last month.

Text of the Iowa delegation's letter to House leaders follows:

--

July 20, 2012

The Honorable John Boehner                       

Speaker of the House                         

H-232, the Capitol                       

Washington, DC  20510                         

The Honorable Nancy Pelosi

Minority Leader

H-204, the Capitol

Washington, DC  20510

The Honorable Eric Cantor                        

Majority Leader                        

H-329, the Capitol                       

Washington, DC  20510                         

The Honorable Steny Hoyer

Minority Whip

H-148, the Capitol

Washington, DC  20510

Dear Speaker Boehner, Leader Pelosi, Majority Leader Cantor, and Minority Whip Hoyer,

We are writing today to request quick consideration of a multi-year farm bill on the House floor. As you know, the House Agriculture Committee favorably reported a bipartisan bill last week that is prepared for quick floor action. The need to extend assistance for farmers gets more urgent every day, given the worsening drought that is blanketing more than half the country.

Just like millions of small businesses across the country, farmers need certainty and confidence in the federal programs that affect their lives. In the United States some sixteen million jobs depend on the success of American agriculture, and the Farm Bill has a huge impact in our home state of Iowa. Agriculture and related industries account for one in six jobs in Iowa and contributes $72 billion into the state's economy annually. Failure to quickly pass a farm bill will have a devastating impact on our constituents and the agriculture industry across the country.

As the agriculture industry across the country faces the worst drought in decades, we're particularly concerned that failure to act on a farm bill quickly could only exacerbate the current challenges faced by thousands of farmers. Much of the disaster assistance funding in the 2008 Farm Bill has already expired, leaving many farmers without a safety net this year. Without action prior to September 30, the bill's remaining programs will expire reverting to laws passed under the outdated 1949 Farm Bill. It is vital that we get a Farm Bill passed out of the House prior to the August recess.

Farmers feed our nation, and we need to make sure to provide them the tools they need so that they can continue to deliver safe, affordable food to the table. Every American has a stake in this bill.

Please do what you can to bring forward the multi-year Farm Bill passed by the House Agriculture Committee. We stand prepared to work with you in a bipartisan manner to accomplish this goal.

Sincerely,

Bruce Braley

Tom Latham

Leonard Boswell

Steve King

Dave Loebsack