[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 95 (Wednesday, July 19, 2006)]
[House]
[Page H5384]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 REDUCING EXPOSURE TO SECONDHAND SMOKE

  (Mr. MURPHY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. MURPHY. Madam Speaker, while this week we are discussing ways to 
treat disease with stem cells, let us not overlook what we should also 
be doing to prevent disease.
  Each year nearly 50,000 adult nonsmokers die from lung cancer or 
heart disease from secondhand smoke. A recent U.S. Surgeon General 
report found 60 percent of nonsmokers, about 126 million people, have 
biologic evidence of nicotine, carbon monoxide and tobacco-specific 
carcinogens in their systems from secondhand smoke.
  In adults, secondhand smoke can increase the risk of developing lung 
cancer and heart disease by up to 30 percent. And in children 
secondhand smoke leads to premature birth, asthma, respiratory illness 
and ear infections.
  Encouraging smoke-free workplaces will help to reduce $10 billion in 
annual medical costs. Offering deductions in health insurance, and 
smoking-cessation treatment are just a couple of ways that the Federal 
Government and employers can cut health care costs.
  To learn more about ways to save lives and money in health care, I 
urge my colleagues to visit my Web site at murphy.house.gov.

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