Olympia, Wash. – February 8, 2017 – The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) is deeply concerned about proposed legislation to weaken Washington’s Clean Indoor Air Law. We urge lawmakers to vote ‘No’ on House Bill 1919 sponsored by Representative Brandon Vick (R-Felida), which would allow smoking in cigar bars across Washington and require workers in such establishments to be current smokers as a condition of employment. In response to the legislation, Mary McHale, ACS CAN Washington government relations director, issued the following statement:
“We cannot put the lives of thousands of workers and patrons in jeopardy by weakening our state’s smoke-free protections. No one should have to choose between their health and a paycheck. Our state should be passing laws and supporting policies that encourage smokers to quit, not requiring them to remain addicted to a deadly substance in order to earn a living.
“In 2005, Washington state voters overwhelmingly passed an initiative prohibiting smoking in all indoor public places and workplaces. Since then, indoor air pollution has decreased dramatically in bars, restaurants and workplaces, and compliance with the law is high. Protecting workers and patrons from secondhand smoke remains exceedingly popular with 84 percent of Washingtonians supporting this voter-backed law. Lawmakers must not roll back the will of the people and allow harmful smoke to return indoors.
“The U.S. Surgeon General reports there is no safe level of secondhand smoke exposure. Secondhand smoke contains hundreds of toxic chemicals and about 70 of them can cause cancer. Cigar smoking increases risk for cancers of the lung, mouth, esophagus, and likely pancreas and bladder, if inhaled. Because cigars contain more tobacco than cigarettes, and because they often burn for much longer, they emit greater amounts of dangerous secondhand smoke.
“Not only would Rep. Vick’s bill jeopardize the health of workers and citizens, but it would ultimately increase Washington’s health care costs. The annual health care costs in Washington directly caused from smoking are nearly $3 billion and the state spends nearly $789 million in Medicaid costs yearly due to smoking. Given Washington’s enormous budget crisis, the legislature should be doing everything to save money by preventing secondhand smoke exposure and reducing the number of individuals using tobacco.
“ACS CAN strongly opposes this proposed legislation to weaken the state clean indoor air law that could put lives at risk. We urge the legislature to keep the proven, successful and popular health protections that currently exist in our Clean Indoor Air Act intact to prevent cancer, save lives and save money.”
ACS CAN, the nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society, supports evidence-based policy and legislative solutions designed to eliminate cancer as a major health problem. ACS CAN works to encourage elected officials and candidates to make cancer a top national priority. ACS CAN gives ordinary people extraordinary power to fight cancer with the training and tools they need to make their voices heard. For more information, visit www.fightcancer.org.
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