Smoking

Statement of Charles D. Connor, American Lung Association President and CEO

5/19/2009 -- Like bell bottoms and pet rocks, smoking in public places and workplaces is quickly going the way of the dinosaur—simply another component of American culture near extinction. Today, America’s fast growing smokefree air trend reached the largest tobacco producing state in the nation. North Carolina has adopted a law prohibiting smoking in bars and restaurants.

The American Lung Association applauds this historic move made by North Carolina’s Governor Beverly Perdue and the state legislature. We celebrate this new law as a tremendous public health victory that finally opens the doorway to ending Big Tobacco’s chokehold on Southern states.    » read more »

Wisconsin Becomes 25th State to Pass Comprehensive Legislation Protecting All Workers from Secondhand Smoke

Washington, D.C. (May 18, 2009) -- Today, Wisconsin residents have reason to celebrate. The Dairy State is now the 25th state in the nation, and the second in 2009, to pass a comprehensive smokefree workplace law protecting virtually everyone from secondhand smoke in public places and workplaces.

The American Lung Association applauds Governor Jim Doyle and Wisconsin lawmakers for passing this important legislation that will save hundreds of lives.

According to the U.S. Surgeon General, nearly 50,000 Americans die each year from secondhand smoke exposure. It is also the cause of a host of other diseases and ailments, including lung cancer and heart disease.    » read more »

May 19, 2009 -- Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), a senior member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, delivered the following statement at today’s committee mark-up, which he chaired, of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act:    » read more »

May 19, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH), a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions (HELP) Committee, issued the following statement in response to the start of the committee’s mark-up of the “Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act”:

“Fifteen years ago, I sat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee and listened as seven tobacco company CEOs raised their right hands to defend their practices and swear, under oath, that cigarettes and nicotine were not addictive.    » read more »

May 18, 2009 -- MILWAUKEE, GREEN BAY, MADISON – Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle today signed legislation to make public places, including restaurants, taverns, and other indoor workplaces, smokefree. The Governor was joined at bill-signing events around the state today by business owners, health officials and smokefree Wisconsin advocates.

“It’s time for every person in Wisconsin to breathe freely at restaurants, taverns, and workplaces across the state,” Governor Doyle said. “A smokefree Wisconsin will save money in health care costs, improve public health and save lives. I wish the ban would be implemented sooner, but I am proud the state is embracing the healthy direction the world is going.”    » read more »

5/19/2009 -- Raleigh -- North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue today signed House Bill 2, which prohibits smoking in public bars and restaurants. Rep. Hugh Holliman and Sen. Bill Purcell led the efforts to pass this landmark legislation. The smoking ban will go into effect on Jan. 2, 2010, and will be enforced by local health directors.

“This is a historic day for North Carolina,” said Perdue. “But more important than the history that we are making is the positive impact we are having on public health. By banning smoking in our restaurants and bars, we will greatly reduce the dangers of secondhand smoke and lower health care costs for families.”    » read more »

May 14, 2009 -- MADISON – Wisconsin Governor Doyle today made the following statement regarding the state Legislature passing a statewide smoking ban.

“I have worked throughout my career in public life to help prevent Wisconsin children from starting to smoke and help motivate adults in our state to quit smoking. Today, Wisconsin is taking an important step to save lives and protect our kids and citizens from the scourge of tobacco.

“I wish the ban would be implemented sooner, but I am proud the state is embracing the healthy direction the world is going. Making Wisconsin smoke free will save money in health care costs, improve public health across the state and save lives.”

Source: Wisconsin Governor

5/14/2009 -- Raleigh -- "Today is an important and historic day for North Carolina – a day to applaud Rep. Hugh Holliman and Sen. William Purcell for protecting the health of North Carolinians.

I have vigorously supported efforts to reduce and eliminate smoking and this bill will help more North Carolina citizens avoid the dangers of secondhand smoke."

Source: North Carolina Governor

May 06, 2009 -- MADISON – Wisconsin Governor Doyle today made the following statement about an agreement to a statewide smoking ban.

"I am pleased that an agreement has been reached in response to my call for a statewide smoking ban.

“Throughout my entire career in public life, I’ve fought to protect our kids and our citizens from the scourge of tobacco. For years, I have called on the Legislature to pass a statewide smoking ban in order to help prevent Wisconsin children from starting to smoke and help motivate adults in our state to quit smoking. I wish the ban would be implemented sooner but today we are one step closer to a statewide smoking ban that is fair and equitable.    » read more »

Washington, D.C. (March 19, 2009)—Today, South Dakota residents have reason to celebrate. South Dakota is now officially the 24th state in the nation, and the first in 2009, to pass a comprehensive smokefree workplace law protecting virtually everyone from secondhand smoke in public places and workplaces.

The American Lung Association applauds Governor Rounds and South Dakota lawmakers for passing this important legislation that will save hundreds of lives in the next decade alone.

Secondhand smoke kills close to 50,000 Americans annually, according to the U.S. Surgeon, and is the cause of a host of diseases and ailments, including lung cancer, heart disease, SIDS and childhood ear infections.    » read more »

Ban will protect workers and patrons and will be strongest in traditional tobacco states

March 09, 2009 --    » read more »

March 4, 2009 -- Statement of Charles D. Connor, American Lung Association President and CEO:

Today in Washington, the Congress has moved one big step closer to ending the grip Big Tobacco has on our nation’s health. The U.S. House of Representatives’ Energy and Commerce Committee sent the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (HR 1256) to the full House for its consideration. Passage of this important bill will provide the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) urgently needed regulatory control over the tobacco industry.    » read more »

Statement of American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Heart Association, American Lung Association and Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids

Washington, D.C. (March 3, 2009)— Our public health organizations strongly support the bipartisan legislation introduced today to provide the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) with effective authority to regulate tobacco products.

There are few steps Congress can take that will make a bigger difference for America’s health than to finally regulate tobacco products, the number one cause of preventable death and disease in the United States.    » read more »

Statement of American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Heart Association, American Lung Association and Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids

Washington, D.C. (March 2, 2009)— Our public health organizations strongly support the bipartisan legislation introduced today to provide the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) with effective authority to regulate tobacco products. There are few steps Congress can take that will make a bigger difference for America’s health than to finally regulate tobacco products, the number one cause of preventable death and disease in the United States.    » read more »

Edgy youth tobacco prevention campaign will be hard for teens to ignore

PHOENIX (Feb. 16, 2009) – Arizona seeks to set precedence with its new tobacco prevention and education campaign — “Brought to you by addiction.” — a mass media and grassroots campaign that harnesses the realities of tobacco addiction for an audience age 12 to 17. Its launch, today, marks a new frontier in teen focused anti-smoking campaigns in Arizona that until now focused on the health impacts of smoking.    » read more »