WASHINGTON, D.C. -- November 1, 2007 -- "I commend Senators today for putting the lives of 900,000 Americans above the interests of the tobacco industry by voting to expand the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) with a substantial increase in the federal tobacco excise tax.
"The President continues to insist that he will veto the legislation, and now he cites the tobacco tax increase as his principal reason for opposing the measure.
"As Congress continues to work toward enactment of an expanded SCHIP bill, ACS CAN calls on Congress to preserve in its entirety the tobacco tax funding passed repeatedly by both houses of Congress. The 61-cent increase is the most sensible way to pay for much-needed children’s health insurance.
"The cost increase in tobacco products will prevent 1.9 million children in the United States from becoming lifelong tobacco users. It will discourage more than 1.4 million adults from continuing their deadly habit. It will prevent more than 900,000 smoking-attributable premature deaths, including approximately 590,000 children who will not cut their lives short from tobacco use. The 61-cent increase in the price per pack of cigarettes will reduce youth smoking by seven percent and overall cigarette consumption by four percent.
"There is simply no more sensible way to pay for children’s health than by increasing the cost of America’s most deadly consumer product.
"Today’s vote, which comes exactly one week after the House passed identical 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."
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Kat Porter
Phone: (202) 585-3202
Email: [email protected]
Steve Weiss
Phone: (202) 661-5711
Email: [email protected]