[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 177 (Thursday, November 15, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2427]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        GREAT AMERICAN SMOKEOUT

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                         HON. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 15, 2007

  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the American 
Cancer Society's 31st annual Great American Smokeout--a day when 
smokers across the Nation mark the event by cutting back, forsaking 
cigarettes for the day, or perhaps quitting altogether.
  I'm proud that in my Congressional district, all the hospitals--which 
already prohibit smoking indoors--will today be extending their smoke-
free zones and prohibit the use of tobacco products anywhere on their 
campuses. This includes outside entrances, walkways, parking lots and 
garages. Patients, visitors, and hospital employees are covered by this 
policy. These medical institutions, which treat many diseases that 
result from use of tobacco products, are taking a critical step that 
will lead to patients, visitors, and staff reducing and hopefully 
quitting the use of tobacco products. By taking this action, the 
hospitals in my community will lead by example in our efforts to reduce 
tobacco use.
  The toll of tobacco in America is devastating, with 440,000 people 
dying prematurely each year from tobacco use. Tobacco use is the cause 
of at least 30 percent of all cancer deaths and 87 percent of lung 
cancer deaths. Secondhand smoke is a major health hazard--3,000 
otherwise healthy nonsmokers nationwide will die of lung cancer 
annually because of their exposure to secondhand smoke.
  In Maryland, there will be more than 4,000 new cases of lung cancer 
diagnosed this year and there will be nearly 3,000 lung cancer deaths. 
In addition to the thousands of lives lost to diseases caused by 
tobacco products, the annual direct and indirect health care costs in 
the U.S. caused by tobacco use is approximately $194 billion.
  As people across the country begin to attempt to conquer tobacco 
addiction on this Great American Smokeout day, Congress must continue 
to do its part on reducing the addiction to tobacco. I urge my 
colleagues to cosponsor and pass H.R. 1108, the Family Smoking 
Prevention and Control Act. This bill would grant the FDA the authority 
to regulate tobacco products and the marketing of those products, which 
the tobacco industry has shamelessly marketed to our Nation's youth to 
create lifetime smokers and consumers of their deadly products.
  Madam Speaker, I applaud the hospitals in my congressional district 
for becoming smoke-free zones and commend the American Cancer Society 
for their efforts in reducing America's addiction to tobacco products.

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