WASHINGTON, D.C. – In light of yesterday’s U.S. appeals court decision to stay a lower court order that tobacco companies stop marketing certain brands of cigarettes as “light” or “low tar”, U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) today called on Congress to pass his legislation (The Truth in Cigarette Labeling Act) that would stop cigarette companies from selling cigarettes labeled “light” and “low tar”.

"These so-called ‘low tar’ and ‘light’ cigarette claims are completely misleading, and people switch to these ‘light’ cigarettes because they think they are safer,” Lautenberg said. “These ‘light’ cigarettes can be more harmful than regulars ones. That is why we must stop big tobacco from continuing to lie to smokers.”

These cigarettes have been proven to be more dangerous to smokers because people inhale more deeply to get the same amount of nicotine from light cigarettes, causing them to take in more tar and other harmful chemicals.

In a landmark court decision earlier this year, U.S. District Court Judge Gladys Kessler found that tobacco companies had been deliberately deceiving smokers about the dangers of cigarettes, and ordered them to stop marketing certain brands as “light” or “low tar.” Yesterday, the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia stayed Judge Kessler’s judgment against the tobacco industry, allowing cigarette companies to continue selling "light" and "low tar" cigarettes until their appeals can be reviewed.

The U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision will allow the tobacco industry to continue its misleading marketing claims.