The Associated Press is reporting that the United States Congress is pressuring Major League Baseball and the players association to ban players from using chewing tobacco during games. The request is being spearheaded by House Energy and Commerce Committee chairman Henry Waxman, a California Democrat, and Health Subcommittee chairman Frank Pallone, a New Jersey Democrat.

There has been a ban in the minors since 1993 for smokeless tobacco. A similar ban in the majors would first have to be collectively bargained.Baseball’s current labor contract is due to expire in December 2011.

“For them to pull it off in the minors really surprised me,” Twins reliever Pat Neshek told the AP. “We’ll see if that gains much traction.”