5 February 2009

Today was a historic day for public health in America!

The United States Congress passed legislation increasing the federal tobacco tax by 62 cents per pack and President Obama is expected to sign it into law this afternoon, February 5, 2009. After thousands of emails and phone calls…after years of effort…today, America took a significant step forward towards a healthier future for all.

Consider that the tobacco tax increase will result in:

-         more than 1 million adult smokers quitting;
-         nearly 2 million kids alive today who will not become smokers; and
-         nearly 1 million lives saved from what would have otherwise been a smoking-caused death