| For Immediate Release February 22, 2007 |
Contact: Jennifer Friedman 202.296.5469 |
New Hampshire Senate Takes Critical Step for Health By Passing Smoke-Free Bill
Statement of William V. Corr, Executive Director, Tobacco-Free Kids Action Fund
Washington, DC - The New Hampshire State Senate took a critical step for health today by approving statewide smoke-free legislation that will protect the right to breathe clean, smoke-free air for New Hampshire workers and the public. The 17 to 7 vote is a welcome reversal from a year ago when the Senate defeated the legislation by a vote of 12-11. Today's vote shows that New Hampshire's leaders are heeding the loud and clear message voters delivered at the ballot box last year when they replaced three state senators who had opposed the smoke-free law with three supportive senators. We congratulate the newly elected Senate for listening to the voters and acting on their mandate. We urge the New Hampshire House to follow suit and once again approve this legislation. The Granite State is clearly ready to join its New England neighbors in passing a strong smoke-free law that covers restaurants and bars.
Today's vote underscores the strong public support for smoke-free laws that protect everyone from the serious health harms of secondhand smoke. In the weeks leading up to the elections last year, the Tobacco-Free Kids Action Fund launched an independent, direct mail and voter contact campaign to educate New Hampshire voters about the clear contrast between the positions of candidates when it comes to smoke-free laws.
The need for protection from secondhand smoke has never been clearer. In issuing his groundbreaking report last June, U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona stated, "The debate is over. The science is clear: Secondhand smoke is not a mere annoyance, but a serious health hazard that causes premature death and disease in children and nonsmoking adults." The Surgeon General found that secondhand smoke is a proven cause of lung cancer, heart disease, serious respiratory illnesses such as bronchitis and asthma, low birth weight and sudden infant death syndrome. The Surgeon General also found that secondhand smoke is responsible for tens of thousands of deaths in the United States each year, there is no risk-free level of exposure and only smoke-free policies provide effective protection.
There is overwhelming evidence from smoke-free states and cities around the country that smoke-free laws protect health without harming business. As the U.S. Surgeon General concluded, "Evidence from peer-reviewed studies shows that smoke-free policies and regulations do not have an adverse impact on the hospitality industry."
In the U.S., Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and 16 states have passed smoke-free laws that include restaurants and bars. The states are Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, Montana, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont and Washington.
Everyone in New Hampshire should be able to earn a living or enjoy a night out without being exposed to toxic secondhand smoke.