[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 127 (Friday, August 3, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10933-S10935]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mrs. CLINTON (for herself, Mr. Sanders, and Mrs. Murray):
  S. 2005. A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide 
education on the health consequences of exposure to secondhand smoke, 
and for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, 
and Pensions.
  Mrs. CLINTON. Mr. President, today, I am introducing the Secondhand 
Smoke Education and Outreach Act of 2007 to provide information to the 
public about the health consequences of secondhand smoke and support 
tobacco cessation education.
  I want to thank Senators Sanders and Murray for cosponsoring the 
Secondhand Smoke Education and Outreach Act and recognize them as 
strong advocates for smoking cessation efforts.
  I believe that tobacco use constitutes one of the greatest threats to 
public health, a conclusion that was also expressed in the 2000 Supreme 
Court ruling, and I also believe that we have a duty to safeguard our 
Nation's health against tobacco products.
  Every year, an estimated 400,000 smokers die as a result of smoking-
related diseases. But nonsmokers also suffer and die from exposure to 
tobacco smoke.
  Last year, the Surgeon General issued the report, The Health 
Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke, which found that 
there is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke. The 
Surgeon General reported that nearly half of all nonsmoking Americans 
are still regularly exposed to secondhand smoke, which contains more 
than 50 carcinogens.
  Living with a smoker increases a non-smoker's risk of developing lung 
cancer by 20 to 30 percent and, according to the California 
Environmental Protection Agency, exposure to secondhand smoke causes 
approximately 3,000 lung cancer deaths in the U.S. each year. 
Secondhand smoke also causes 46,000 cardiac deaths annually in our 
country.
  Studies have shown that exposure to secondhand smoke has both 
immediate and long-term adverse health consequences on the adult 
cardiovascular system. Exposure to secondhand smoke for 30 minutes can 
damage coronary arteries, while sustained exposure can increase the 
risk of coronary heart disease by 20 to 30 percent.
  Although more than 20 States have passed smoke-free laws, including 
laws that ban smoking in restaurants and bars, Americans of all age 
groups are involuntarily exposed to tobacco smoke through exposure in 
workplaces, homes, cars, apartments, and even outdoor public spaces. 
According to the National Cancer Institute, racial and ethnic 
minorities in the U.S. have higher rates of occupational exposure to 
secondhand smoke, with Latinos and Native Americans having the highest 
rates.
  Therefore, it is critical that individuals, especially youth, should 
not be exposed to secondhand smoke. Further, parents should have access 
to information about the adverse health consequences so that they can 
better protect their children and themselves from secondhand smoke.

  Education about the dangers of tobacco use and exposure to tobacco 
smoke is absolutely critical for combating the misleading messages that 
the tobacco industry propagates through savvy advertising campaigns.
  There is strong evidence that tobacco advertisements cynically target 
advertising to adult and adolescent women. According to an analysis 
published by the Journal of the American Medical Association in 1994 
and a 2001 report by the Surgeon General, the tobacco industry has 
targeted women with some form of this dangerous promotional strategy 
for almost a century, beginning in the 1920s. The latest example of 
this is chronicled in a recent New York Times editorial, entitled 
``Don't Fall for Hot Pink Camels'', which discusses R.J. Reynolds's $25 
million to $50 million investment in an advertising campaign behind the 
new female-friendly Camel No. 9.
  In addition to targeting women, tobacco advertisements are also 
designed to appeal to our youth. In the August 2006 racketeering suit 
brought by the Justice Department against the tobacco industry, Judge 
Kessler's Final Opinion concluded that: ``. . . Defendants continue to 
engage in many practices which target youth, and deny that they do so. 
Despite the provisions of the MSA, Defendants continue to track youth 
behavior and preferences and market to youth using imagery which 
appeals to the needs and desires of adolescents.'' This is an 
unconscionable, but effective, practice. A study published this year in 
the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine concluded that youth 
are more likely to start smoking if exposed to retail cigarette 
advertising and that cigarette promotions also increase the probability 
of youth becoming regular smokers.
  Finally, racial and ethnic minority communities are 
disproportionately targeted with advertising campaigns for tobacco 
products, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human 
Services. The tobacco industry has contributed to primary and secondary 
schools, funded universities and colleges, and supported scholarship 
programs targeting racial and ethnic minorities. Tobacco companies have 
also placed advertising in community publications and sponsored 
cultural events in racial and ethnic minority communities.
  Despite the public's growing understanding of the health dangers 
posed by tobacco, too many still succumb to the lure of these deadly 
products. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 
over 20 percent of adults currently smoke cigarettes in the U.S. Among 
racial and ethnic communities, approximately 16 percent of Hispanic 
adults, 13 percent of Asian American adults, 22 percent of Caucasians 
adults, 22 percent of African American adults, and 32 percent of 
American Indians and Alaska Natives currently smoke cigarettes.
  As for our Nation's youth, a 2005 National Survey on Drug Use and 
Health reported that nearly 3 million Americans under the age of 18 
currently smoke cigarettes. According to the CDC, unless current rates 
of youth smoking are reversed, more than 6.3 million children under the 
age of 18 will die from smoking-related diseases.

  That is why health care professionals should have the opportunity to 
receive training in the delivery of evidence-based tobacco dependence 
and prevention treatment in order to assist smokers in overcoming their 
addiction and educating all patients about the harm of secondhand 
smoke.
  That is why I, along with Senators Sanders and Murray, am introducing 
the Secondhand Smoke Education and Outreach Act. I am grateful to have 
developed this proposal with the American Lung Association, the 
American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association, and the 
Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids.
  This bill, through education and outreach, will help reverse the 
public's underestimation of the harm that secondhand smoke can wreck on 
one's health and will promote smoking cessation efforts across our 
nation.
  This new legislation would establish grants and demonstration 
projects, awarded by the Secretary of HHS in consultation with the 
SAMHSA administrator, for educating the public about the health 
consequences of secondhand smoke in multi-unit dwellings and in public 
spaces, such as public parks, playgrounds, and national parks. Special 
consideration would be given to awarding grants to organizations whose 
participation includes secondary school or college-age individuals, and 
to organizations that reach racial or ethnic populations that 
experience a disproportionate share of the cancer burden.
  The Secondhand Smoke Education and Outreach Act would also authorize 
and fund grants for regional or local tobacco cessation education and 
counseling for health care workers and providers. The training 
curricula would assist smokers in quitting through smoking cessation 
counseling, educate smokers and nonsmokers about the

[[Page S10934]]

health consequences of secondhand smoke, and help promote self-
sustaining networks for the delivery of affordable, accessible, and 
effective cessation services.
  The U.S. spends more on health care than any other industrialized 
nation and yet we struggle to provide adequate health care for all our 
citizens. We literally cannot afford the myriad of health problems that 
we know result from tobacco use: bladder, esophageal, laryngeal, lung, 
oral, and throat cancers, chronic lung diseases, coronary heart and 
cardiovascular diseases, as well as reproductive effects and sudden 
infant death syndrome.
  The Secondhand Smoke Education and Outreach Act is an important step 
in ensuring that our nation's communities have the knowledge they need 
to keep themselves and their environments healthy, and I look forward 
to working with my colleagues to enact this legislation during the 
upcoming reauthorization of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health 
Services Administration at the Department of Health and Human Services.
  I ask unanimous consent that letters of support be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be placed in 
the Record, as follows:

                                       American Heart Association,


                                  American Stroke Association,

                                                   August 2, 2007.
     Hon. Hillary Rodham Clinton,
     Russell Senate Building,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Clinton: The American Heart Association, on 
     behalf of our more than 22 million volunteers and supporters, 
     strongly endorses the Secondhand Smoke Education and Outreach 
     Act of 2007. If enacted, this legislation would provide 
     Federal funds to educate the public about the health 
     consequences of secondhand smoke and create tobacco cessation 
     education and counseling programs.
       Secondhand smoke causes death and disease in children and 
     adults who do not choose to smoke. The 2006 Surgeon General's 
     Report The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to 
     Tobacco Smoke found that there is no safe level of secondhand 
     smoke. Secondhand smoke has immediate adverse effects on the 
     cardiovascular system, increasing the risk of coronary heart 
     disease by 25 to 30 percent. An estimated 35,052 nonsmokers 
     die each year as a result of exposure to environmental 
     tobacco smoke.
       Secondhand smoke has a particularly adverse effect on 
     children's health. An estimated 150,000-300,000 children 
     younger than 18 months of age have respiratory tract 
     infections due to exposure to secondhand smoke. The 
     educational campaigns and demonstration projects about the 
     health effects of secondhand smoke in multi-unit housing and 
     public spaces that would be funded by the Secondhand Smoke 
     Education and Outreach Act of 2007 would give particular 
     emphasis to programs that would include secondary school and 
     college-age individuals.
       We applaud you for your leadership and look forward to 
     working with you to advance this vitally important 
     legislation.
           Sincerely,
                                                    Sue A. Nelson,
     Vice President, Federal Advocacy.
                                  ____

                                   Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids,
                                   Washington, DC, August 2, 2007.
     Hon. Hillary R. Clinton,
     U.S. Senate,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Clinton: The Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids 
     strongly supports your legislation, ``Secondhand Smoke 
     Education and Outreach Act.'' As stated by former Surgeon 
     General Richard Carmona, ``The debate is over. The science is 
     clear. Secondhand smoke is not a mere annoyance but a serious 
     health hazard.'' This legislation will provide timely and 
     accessible educational programs concerning secondhand smoke 
     along with funds to train health professionals to help more 
     Americans quit smoking.
       The ``Secondhand Smoke Education and Outreach Act'' will 
     fund much needed educational campaigns about the dangers of 
     secondhand smoke in the workplace and in multi-unit housing. 
     These campaigns will promote greater awareness on the health 
     consequences of smoking and secondhand smoke and will 
     encourage more communities to go smokefree.
       The mission of the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids is to 
     reduce the harm associated with smoking and exposure to 
     tobacco smoke, preventing children from using tobacco, and 
     helping adults to end their tobacco use. Your initiative will 
     help further these goals by promoting awareness of the harms 
     of secondhand smoke and ways to prevent exposure to it and by 
     supporting people's efforts to quit smoking and improve their 
     quality of life.
       This initiative is consistent with your demonstrated 
     commitment to helping protect our nation's children from the 
     harms associated with tobacco use. Your support of re-
     authorization of the State Children's Health Insurance 
     Program which is funded by an increase in the excise tax on 
     all tobacco products (a proven measure to deter kids from 
     smoking) and your recent vote in the Senate Health Education 
     Labor and Pensions Committee to give the Food and Drug 
     Administration the authority to regulate tobacco products and 
     advertising clearly demonstrates your strong support for 
     reducing the harms of tobacco in this country.
       The Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids applauds your leadership 
     on tobacco prevention efforts and we look forward to working 
     with you to move your Secondhand Smoke Education and Outreach 
     Act forward.
           Sincerely,
                                                  William V. Corr,
     Executive Director.
                                  ____

                                          American Cancer Society,


                                        Cancer Action Network,

                                   Washington, DC, August 1, 2007.
     Hon. Hillary Clinton,
     U. S. Senate,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Clinton: The American Cancer Society Cancer 
     Action NetworkSM (ACS CAN) is pleased to endorse the 
     Secondhand Smoke Education and Outreach Act of 2007. This 
     legislation would make federal funds available for public 
     education campaigns on the dangers of secondhand smoke and 
     the consequences of secondhand smoke in public spaces, as 
     well as fund grants for tobacco cessation education and 
     counseling.
       There are devastating health consequences directly 
     attributable to secondhand smoke: Secondhand smoke causes 
     between 35,000 and 40,000 deaths from heart disease every 
     year; 3,000 otherwise healthy nonsmokers will die of lung 
     cancer annually because of their exposure to secondhand 
     smoke; The total annual costs of secondhand smoke exposure 
     are estimated to be at least $5 billion in direct medical 
     costs and at least $5 billion in indirect costs.
       The 2006 Surgeon General's Report on The Health 
     Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke 
     documents that: There is no risk-free level of exposure to 
     secondhand smoke; Children exposed to secondhand smoke are at 
     an increased risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), 
     low birthweights, acute respiratory infections, ear problems 
     and more severe asthma; Parents who smoke cause respiratory 
     symptoms and slow lung growth in their children; Exposure to 
     secondhand smoke leads to an increased risk for lung cancer 
     and cardiovascular disease and death; Nonsmokers living with 
     a smoker have a 20 to 30 percent increased risk of lung 
     cancer and a 25 to 30 percent increased risk for coronary 
     heart disease.
       We look forward to working with you to secure passage of 
     this important legislation by the 110th Congress.
           Sincerely,
       Daniel E. Smith,
                                                         President
     Wendy K. Selig,
       Vice President, Legislative Affairs.
                                  ____

                                                   August 1, 2007.
     Hon. Hillary R. Clinton,
     U.S. Senate,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Clinton: The American Lung Association 
     strongly supports your Secondhand Smoke Education and 
     Outreach Act. Despite the irrefutable scientific evidence 
     that secondhand smoke kills, people of every age are exposed 
     to tobacco smoke in the workplace, at home and in other 
     public spaces. This legislation will provide accessible 
     educational programs concerning secondhand smoke and smoking 
     cessation in order to effectively reduce secondhand smoke 
     exposure and promote lung health among Americans.
       In June of 2006, the U.S. Surgeon General issued The Health 
     Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke, which 
     concluded that there is no risk-free level of exposure to 
     secondhand smoke. Even short exposure to secondhand smoke can 
     decrease coronary flow and increase the risk of a heart 
     attack in adults; additionally, in children, the risk of 
     developing acute respiratory infections or asthma is 
     elevated. However, despite this conclusive scientific 
     evidence, more education is needed to communicate the dangers 
     of secondhand smoke.
       The Secondhand Smoke Education and Outreach Act will fund 
     much needed educational campaigns about the dangers of 
     secondhand smoke in the workplace and in multi-unit housing. 
     These campaigns will promote awareness on the health 
     consequences of smoking and secondhand smoke and promote lung 
     health among the public. The legislation will also authorize 
     grants to health care workers and providers for tobacco 
     cessation education.
       The mission of the American Lung Association is to prevent 
     lung disease and promote lung health. The Secondhand Smoke 
     Education and Outreach Act will do both by promoting 
     secondhand smoke awareness and supporting people's efforts to 
     quit smoking and enhance their lives.
       The American Lung Association looks forward to working with 
     you to see the Secondhand Smoke Education and Outreach Act 
     enacted into law.
           Sincerely,
                                             Bernadette A. Toomey,
                                                President and CEO.

[[Page S10935]]

     
                                  ____
                                         The City of White Plains,


                                                 Youth Bureau,

                            White Plains, New York, July 31, 2007.
     Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton,
     Russell Building Suite 476, U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
     Re: Second hand Smoke Education
       Dear Senator Clinton: The White Plains Youth Bureau is 
     writing this letter in support of the Bill you are 
     introducing to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide 
     education on the health consequences of exposure to second 
     hand smoke, and for other purposes.
       Studies conducted by various health organizations, as well 
     as the Surgeon General have documented that there are more 
     than 60 million young children still being involuntarily 
     exposed to second hand smoke. Although the passage of laws 
     such as the Clean Indoor Air Act, and other laws passed by 
     individual states, have made significant reductions to 
     smoking rates, involuntary exposure to second hand smoke 
     continues to effect the health of our most vulnerable 
     population--our children. Exposure to second hand smoke in 
     outdoor public spaces as well as in multi unit housing 
     complexes continues to be a significant health risk factor.
       This bi1l is designed to address these very problems by 
     providing support for increased education about the dangers 
     of second hand smoke exposure. Research has proven that 
     continuous education does make a difference. Additionally, 
     the support for increased training of health professionals 
     will help educate parents and other adults about the need to 
     protect vulnerable segment of our population from involuntary 
     exposure to second hand smoke.
       We commend you and your staff for taking the initiative in 
     putting together this important Bill that will definitely 
     help to improve the health outcomes for many of our young 
     people as well as continue the battle against the 
     unscrupulous practices of the tobacco industry.
           Sincerely Yours,
                                                     Linda Puoplo,
                                                  Deputy Director.
                                 ______