Comer Talks Tobacco with Secretary of Agriculture
By West Kentucky Star Staff
WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman James Comer spoke with the
Secretary of Agriculture, Sonny Perdue, about tobacco regulations in
an Agriculture Committee meeting Wednesday.
Rep. Comer used a regulation the Obama
Administration issued in the final days regarding the amount of
N-nitrosonornicotine (NNN) in smokeless tobacco as an example of a
broken regulatory system. This unattainable regulation is devastating
to tobacco farmers across the first district.
“My hope is that with Secretary
Perdue working with Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price we
can ensure proper regulations are established that are actually
achievable. Dark-fired tobacco is very important in my district, and
I want to make sure I do everything I can to help make sure it
continues to thrive,” said Rep. Comer.
“I was pleased to hear Secretary
Perdue’s position that sound science and facts, not ideological
beliefs, will play an important role in the USDA’s approach to
rulemaking. Also encouraging were his comments about cooperation
amongst the agencies in DC to work toward common goals instead of
agency infighting over jurisdictions,” Comer added.
Congressman Comer sent a letter to
President Trump in the early days of his Administration and asked
Agriculture Secretary Perdue about the matter.