ALEXANDRIA, Va. ?" Congress passed legislation long advocated by NACS to ensure that Internet tobacco retailers are held to the same high standards as convenience retailers.

By a 387-25 vote, the House passed the Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking Act (PACT Act) yesterday, which addresses the long-standing convenience store industry concern of tax evasion via remote sellers of tobacco products.

With the Senate previously passing the legislation on March 13, the bill now will be sent to President Obama, who is expected to sign the bill into law.

"Our industry is one step away from ending a 10-plus-year battle to close loopholes that placed significant competitive disadvantages on convenience retailers," said NACS Senior Vice President of Government Relations Lyle Beckwith. "The PACT Act allows our industry to compete on equal footing for not just the sale of individual products, but for customers."

The Senate bill was authored by Sen. Herb Kohl (D-WI) and the House version was authored by Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY).

Once it is signed into law, the PACT Act will significantly strengthen federal laws that apply to online cigarette sales. Among other things, the Act will:

• Expressly require Internet sellers pay state and local taxes before they send tobacco products to consumers,
• Impose federal age verification requirements for online sales,
• Broaden the reporting requirements of the Jenkins Act and upgrade violations of the Jenkins Act from a misdemeanor to a felony,
• Empower federal prosecutors and the States to bring actions in federal court to prevent and restrain violations, and
• Bar the U.S. Postal Service from serving as the delivery service for online cigarette and smokeless sellers.