Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that public health authorities and tobacco control advocates should encourage American innovation and embrace harm reduction as part of the comprehensive United States approach to tobacco control.

HRES 979 is a non-binding resolution urging the FDA to streamline approval of less harmful tobacco alternatives (like e-cigarettes or heated tobacco products) for adult smokers who continue using tobacco. It calls on public health agencies, including the CDC, to educate consumers about harm reduction and promote science-based approaches to tobacco control. The resolution also directs U.S. agencies to encourage the World Health Organization to recognize harm reduction as a key strategy in global tobacco control efforts. It does not create new laws but seeks to shift policy toward prioritizing safer alternatives over solely focusing on smoking cessation. The resolution directly affects FDA regulatory processes, public health messaging, and international tobacco control policy coordination.