Harkin: Bush Pocket Veto of Global Treaty Another Wet Kiss to Big Tobacco

HARKIN: BUSH POCKET VETO OF GLOBAL TREATY ANOTHER WET KISS TO BIG TOBACCO

Administration's Failure to Ratify Global Tobacco Treaty Will Keep US Out of Talks with More than 100 Nations This Winter

Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today criticized President Bush and the Administration for once again caving to the demands of Big Tobacco by failing to ratify the global tobacco treaty by the November 8th deadline. The treaty, formally known as the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), provides a unique opportunity to reduce the terrible toll of tobacco throughout the world. Though it was signed by the United States in May of 2004, the president never sent the treaty to the Senate for ratification. Without being ratified, the treaty is now void in the United States. Harkin has repeatedly called on the Administration to take action on the measure, writing to President Bush earlier this year.

"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 committed to preventing tobacco use and protecting public health, but he has gone back on his word. The pocket veto of this treaty is yet another wet kiss to Big Tobacco, and it is a disgrace that this country will not be able to participate in global negotiations because of the president's inaction."

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.

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, and without the treaty 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.

http://harkin.senate.gov/news.cfm?id=248371