Smoking Ban on Flights Backed
The Senate on Thursday approved a smoking ban for nearly all domestic airline flights, a broadening of restrictions that signals a victory by health advocates over tobacco interests.
The prohibition, fought strenuously earlier this year by the cigarette industry and lawmakers from tobacco states, was adopted on a voice vote with no comments by opponents.
Efforts to block the ban were dropped in recent weeks after earlier votes indicated overwhelming congressional sentiment for the restrictions.
The new restrictions forbid smoking on all routes within the continental United States and on all flights to and from Alaska and Hawaii scheduled for six hours or less.
The ban was part of a $12-billion transportation measure for the fiscal year that began Oct. 1. Lawmakers do not expect to finish work on the spending measure until at least Tuesday, when they plan to debate a provision providing $3.2 billion for anti-drug efforts, including new prisons and more law enforcement agents and treatment programs.
If the Senate makes any changes in the measure, it would have to return to the House before being sent to President Bush for his signature.
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