Press Room

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network^SM (ACS CAN) today sent a letter to the members of the Senate Finance Committee urging approval of a 61 cents per pack increase in the federal cigarette excise tax and a comparable increase for other tobacco products. The tax increase is included in a bill to reauthorize the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), slated for Committee mark up tomorrow evening.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- July 11, 2007 -- "The bipartisan agreement by the Senate Finance Committee to raise the federal tobacco tax by 61 cents adds important momentum to the effort to fund the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) in a way that also will protect public health.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- June 20, 2007 -- Nearly halfway through 2007, the smoke-free movement that has swept the country in recent years has assumed an even faster pace.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- April 26, 2007 -- The Federal Trade Commission today released two reports on tobacco industry marketing expenditures showing that the tobacco industry spent a total of $27.7 billion in 2004 and 2005 to advertise and promote their lethal products to Americans.

Two weeks after the introduction of legislation to grant the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulatory authority over tobacco products, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension (HELP) Committee has scheduled a hearing on the bill for February 27.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- January 10, 2007 -- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) today announced that effective immediately, the Speaker’s Lobby will go smoke-free.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- January 1, 2007 -- The District of Columbia’s smoke-free workplaces law will take full effect tomorrow, Jan. 2, when workers and patrons will finally enjoy their long-awaited right to breathe smoke-free air in all indoor workplaces, restaurants and bars.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- December 13, 2006 -- The year 2006 has been marked by enormous progress in the effort to protect the public from the deadly effects of secondhand smoke.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- December 1, 2006 -- The District of Columbia’s smoke-free workplaces law takes full effect Jan. 2, 2007, when workplaces, restaurants and bars will be clear of toxic secondhand smoke and District workers and patrons will be granted the right to breathe smokefree air.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- November 8, 2006 -- Voters in states across the country approved ballot initiatives yesterday that will decrease smoking rates and protect Americans from the harmful effects of secondhand smoke.