President Barack Obama is weighing his position on the Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking Act, a White House spokesperson said.

The bill prohibits the U.S. Postal Service from delivering cigarettes and certain tobacco product, effectively kill the Indian tobacco industry. Tribes say it was developed without their input and without full hearings into the impact on their rights.

The Senate passed its version of the bill last week. There are some differences that have to be addressed with the one that the House passed last year.

“The White House continues to examine the PACT Act and is working with the Department of Justice to consider the bill’s impact while Congress resolves the differences between the House and Senate bills," White House spokesperson Shin Inouye told Indian Country Today.

Tribes were trying to have the Senate Indian Affairs Committee hold a hearing on the issue. Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-North Dakota), the chairman, worked "informally" to address tribal issues, an unnamed spokesperson said.

Get the Story:
Senate passes ‘Termination Era’ PACT Act; tribal leaders will continue fight (Indian Country Today 3/16)

Also Today:
Oneidas cool to state’s new cigarette proposal (The Utica Observer-Dispatch 3/16)

Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking Act.
H.R.1676 | S.1147

Related Stories:
Seneca Nation blasts passage of cigarette trafficking bill (3/15)
Lance Morgan: PACT Act a hidden power grab for states (3/12)
Seneca Nation lobbies against cigarette trafficking bill (3/8)
New York governor proposes tobacco tax regulations (02/24)
Seneca Nation targets Sen. Gillibrand for tobacco bill (01/25)
Seneca Nation prepares for battle over cigarette taxes (1/20)
New York governor puts Indian tobacco tax in new budget (1/19)
Seneca Nation aims to defeat cigarette trafficking bill (01/12)