Obama to sign tobacco bill into law

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the legislation in a 307-97 vote one day after it secured Senate approval on Thursday.

Once law, Food and Drug Administration (F.D.A.) will have the go ahead to impose strict new controls on the manufacturing and marketing of tobacco products that eventually kill half their regular users.

"After a decade of opposition, all of us are finally about to achieve the victory with this bill, a bill that truly defines change in Washington," Obama said in the Rose Garden moments after the House vote.

The measure also calls for larger warnings on cigarette packages, restricts vending machine sales, bans most flavored products and further curbs print advertisements targeting children. The FDA also will have final say over new products and marketing claims such as "light" and "low tar."

The plan has the wide support of health advocates who say it will reduce smoking, prevent disease as well as lower soaring healthcare costs.