WASHINGTON, D.C. -- September 25, 2007 -- "We applaud the House of Representatives for passing the bipartisan compromise bill today (265-159) to expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program with a 61-cent increase in the federal tobacco tax. The bill will have a major, 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 tobacco use, including nearly 600,000 children who will never start smoking.
"The President has said he will veto the SCHIP legislation, which is wholly unacceptable and contradictory to his stated goal of improving the health of our nation. If enacted, the lifesaving health insurance program will cover an additional four million children whose families otherwise can't afford to health insurance for their children.
"More than 400 ACS CAN volunteers from every state across the country met with more than 400 members of Congress on Capitol Hill today to urge them to vote for the bipartisan SCHIP bill and override the President's likely veto.
"We urge the Senate to follow the House's lead and act expeditiously on the legislation and we urge the President to change his tune. Four million children are depending on him to sign this lifesaving legislation.
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) 246-5098
Email: [email protected]
Steve Weiss
Phone: (202) 661-5711
Email: [email protected]