President Obama signed the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act of 2009 today giving the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) powers to regulate tobacco for the first time. The law bans tobacco advertising within a thousand feet of schools and playgrounds and curbs the marketing of products to children.

It allows FDA to take steps to reduce the harmful effects of smoking through a new Center for Tobacco Products. More than 400,000 people die each year from tobacco-related illnesses, according to the White House blog. The White House also issued a fact sheet on the bill.