WASHINGTON, D.C. -- September 27, 2007 -- “We applaud the U.S. Senate for passing the bipartisan compromise bill today (67-29) to expand the State Children’s Health Insurance Program with a 61-cent increase in the federal tobacco tax. The bill, which enjoys strong bipartisan support in both houses of Congress, will have a significant, positive impact on America’s health. The 61-cent tobacco tax alone will reduce youth smoking by an estimated seven percent and overall cigarette consumption by four percent. This amounts to 900,000 lives saved from smoking-attributable premature deaths, including nearly 600,000 children who will not cut their lives short from tobacco use.
“The President has repeatedly stated his intention to veto the legislation. I urge him to have a change of heart and put the interests of our children and public health over the interests of ideology and the tobacco industry. If he signs the legislation, four million additional children whose families otherwise couldn’t afford health insurance will be protected.
“Prior to the House vote on Tuesday, more than 400 ACS CAN volunteers from every state met with their members of Congress on Capitol Hill and helped ensure their overwhelming 265-159 bipartisan victory. In addition, ACS CAN has been advertising this week in Capitol Hill publications urging Congress and the President to support the legislation. A full-paged ad will appear in the Washington Post tomorrow.
ACS CAN is the nonprofit, nonpartisan sister advocacy organization of the American Cancer Society, which is dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem. ACS CAN works to encourage lawmakers, candidates and government officials to support laws and policies that will make cancer a top national priority. ACS CAN gives ordinary people extraordinary power to fight cancer. For more information, visit www.fightcancer.org.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Kat Porter
Phone: (202) 585-3202
Email: [email protected]