WASHINGTON, D.C. -- October 25, 2007 -- "Lawmakers today put the lives of 900,000 people above the interests of the tobacco industry by voting to expand the State Children’s Health Insurance Program with a substantial increase in federal tobacco taxes.
"We expect the Senate to pass this legislation shortly, and we hope that President Bush will follow suit by standing with the nation’s children and signing this important health care measure. If he chooses to veto the bill, we call upon members of Congress to reassert their support for children’s health by quickly overriding the veto.
"The bill would expand the number of children covered by SCHIP by raising the federal cigarette tax by 61 cents, an increase that would prevent 900,000 premature deaths from smoking and save 1.9 million children from becoming lifelong tobacco users. The increase would reduce youth smoking by an estimated seven percent and overall cigarette consumption by four percent.
"Today’s vote, which comes exactly one week after the House narrowly failed to override Bush’s veto of similar legislation, is a demonstration of the public’s demand for better access to health care and a testament to the power of grassroots advocates across the country who support the expansion of SCHIP. Cancer advocates in recent weeks held rallies in 15 key congressional districts, made 2,300 phone calls to targeted congressional offices and sent nearly 16,000 emails urging lawmakers to support the bill."
ACS CAN is the nonprofit, nonpartisan sister advocacy organization of the American Cancer Society, 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/access
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Alissa Havens
Phone: (202) 661-5772
Email: [email protected]
Kat Porter
Phone: (202) 246-5098
Email: [email protected]