Nancy Brown's Statement:"Today, President Obama signed landmark legislation that will have a dramatic impact on the health of all Americans as we fight to reduce death and disease from tobacco use. The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act will force the tobacco industry to abandon a destructive business model that kills more than 400,000 Americans each year. No longer will Big Tobacco be allowed to deceive children and adults with misleading claims about hazardous products. No longer will tobacco companies have free reign to launch shameless advertising campaigns targeting children in hopes of addicting a new generation of smokers.
We commend the Administration and Congress for enacting legislation that will turn the tide in our battle to save lives and significantly reduce the smoking rate among children and adults. Too many lives have been cut short by the cycle of addiction. Nearly one-third of heart disease and stroke deaths are linked to tobacco use, the nation’s leading preventable cause of death. We’re pleased that the tobacco industry will now be held accountable for a health crisis that’s largely the result of irresponsible marketing campaigns and deceptive business practices. With this new law, we are in a stronger position to provide lifesaving information to consumers and keep cigarettes out of the hands of children."
7 comments:
I also dream of a smoke-free society. Maybe we are finally on that road. Tobacco companies have lied and used the public for too long--it's about time they were made accountable. I pray my children and their children do not have to ever be exposed to this addictive habit. Thank you for your efforts.
As a smoker of almost 40 years, in the past 3 weeks I have been told I have lung cancer,lymphnode cancer, bone cancer, an anurism in my abdomine of 6.3 cm. 3 blood clots in my right leg. I would say that is enough. I quit smoking 4and 0nehalf years ago. I have 3 children, 6 grandchildren, and so far 4 great-grandchildren. If my death can stop one smoker. I will give it gladly.
I did not vote for Pres Obama but If he can help other smokers stop he will get every vote I have left to give. I hope he can make a difference.I know he smokes but if he can make a public plea and start an American Stand for all people to stand by him and stop smoking, also, do you realize what a difference it would make? People admire him and his wife(including me)and he has the power to make a change,
So that is my challange. Thumb your noses at the big tobacco companies and save our country and all of our people,for our children and our childrens childrens sake.
My name is jogrimsled
My e-mail is jogrimsled@hotmail.com
I live in La Crosse, Wisc.
I also thank Pres Obama for my social security and for the fact that I can get the medicines I need for quality of life. And I thank GOD for giving me the time to finish most of my business before I die.
Finally, finally, finally a step forward to ending legal tobacco in this country. What other toxic, life-threatening substances are allowed to be marketed and sold to the American people? After watching my 42 year old sister die of lung cancer as a result of smoking I am a huge advocate of a smoke-free society.
I applaud the American Heart Association for their hard work on this bill. Also to President Obama for taking a stand on an issue that has been covered up for generations due to the games played in our government. It took courage to step out of the box and get this done.
I copied this from one of the earlier comments because it describes my feelings as well. The 3 current comments are all PRO for the bill. Why not show all the CON comments from earlier? I think there are more comments against the bill than for it..
"Anonymous said... I don't think it anyone's business if I smoke.
Your just doing this for the money. Why not work on getting rid of alcohol? It kills kids and adults and ruins family's.
Were free alright. Free to let you decide what to do with our lives. Let me fix your life. How many of you drink or eat to much?
Do you cough when your 200ft away from a smoker? RUDE
Badgering people or rasing the cost of cigarettes isn't going to make them stop smoking. Its going to make them angry. You can't tell me you care. Thats not true you care about yourselves.
Maybe you should all stop handing out so many drugs.
All I know is I smoke and their is nothing you can do to make me quit. I have to want to quit. Scaring me isn't going to work.
Have fun making people angry.
America the free? Not anymore.
Most people start smoking before they are legally permitted to do so. That's no accident. It's a consequence of the tobacco industry investing BILLIONS in marketing to our kids (aka new customers). And, they are very good at it. The industry knows if they don't addict kids by 19, that these kids likely will decide NOT to smoke.
Granting the FDA authority to regulate tobacco products gives our kids a fighting chance. I am so thankful that I never started to smoke. It was my mother who prevented me from ever touching a cigarette. Unfortunately, tobacco killed her in the prime of her life at the age of only 49 years old. I was 25 at the time. I only wonder if this law were in effect when she was a teen, would I still have her in my life?
I'm so grateful that we have organizations such as the American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, American Lung Association, Tobacco Free Kids and others who stand up to the tobacco industry and in support of public health.
In response to Mr Adams' post.. This legislation does not prohibit the sale of tobacco or the act of using tobacco. It does however allow the government to force the tobacco companies to disclose what is in their product. If the macoroni and cheese or tylenol that I buy list the ingredients, why shouldn't tobacco? It will also get rid of the marketing gimmicks of 'light' and 'low-tar'. Smokers will still have the right to make their own health choices, just like I can choose to eat a 1/2 gallon of ice cream in one sitting even if it is not in my best interest.
Most of us in the tobacco control field do not want to take away your choice, but rather want you to make an informed decision based on accurate information, not lies and faulty science.
What I don't understand is why so many smokers get so angry at people trying to help them? If you knew your son or daughter was addicted to drugs, whether they were prescription or not, would you want to say "That's their business?" Nicotine is a drug and cigarettes are scary - they are proven to kill. If you are blind to that fact, one day, when it's too late, you may open your eyes and see the life you missed while you lay dying in a hospital bed and draining our healthcare system. Seek ways to quit before it's too late...
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