Harkin Urges President Bush to Reduce the Toll of Tobacco Use Arond the World

HARKIN URGES PRESIDENT BUSH TO REDUCE THE TOLL OF TOBACCO USE AROUND THE WORLD

Calls on President to Send Tobacco Treaty to Senate for Ratification

Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), along with 10 other Senators, today sent a letter to President George W. Bush urging him to send the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) to the Senate for ratification. The treaty, which provides a unique opportunity to reduce the terrible toll of tobacco throughout the world, was signed by the United States in May of 2004. Seventy nations have already ratified the treaty.

"The devastating health and financial effects of tobacco use around the world make it imperative that the United States stand with the global community to combat the tobacco epidemic," Harkin said. "President Bush should immediately stand behind his prior commitment to preventing tobacco use and protecting public health by sending this treaty to the Senate for consideration."

The FCTC is intended to provide the tools needed to combat the damage inflicted by tobacco. It will help nations adopt the measures backed by current research and science that are needed to address the global tobacco epidemic. Specifically, it commits nations to curb cigarette marketing, place graphic health warnings on cigarette packs, raise tobacco taxes and reduce exposure to secondhand smoke. It will also lead to policy changes in the U.S. that will protect children, improve health and save lives. It also will ensure the U.S. has a seat at the table in implementing the treaty and negotiating side agreements on issues of special importance to us, such as cigarette smuggling.

Smoking is the number one preventable cause of death in the U.S. It is responsible for more than 400,000 American deaths annually and costs more than $100 billion in medical and other indirect costs. Every day, 4,000 children under age 18 in the U.S. start smoking, of which 1,000 will ultimately die of smoking related diseases. Globally, approximately five million people a year die from tobacco-related diseases. If swift action is not taken, this number is expected to rise to 10 million a year by 2030. Based on current smoking trends, tobacco will soon become the leading cause of death worldwide, causing more deaths than HIV, maternal mortality, automobile crashes, homicide and suicide combined.

Harkin has a long history of working on tobacco control and prevention issues. Most recently he introduced the Healthy Lifestyles and Prevention (HeLP) America Act to reform our health care system to focus on prevention and wellness. It would require tobacco companies to reduce teen smoking rates or instead face a stiff financial penalty.

A pdf of the letter (2 pages) is attached. The letter was also signed by Senators Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Christopher Dodd (D-CT), Richard Durbin (D-IL), Edward Kennedy (D-MA), Frank Lautenburg (D-NJ), Patty Murray (D-WA), Barack Obama (D-IL), Jack Reed (D-RI), and Ken Salazar (D-CO), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

http://harkin.senate.gov/news.cfm?id=240925