Tobacco Documents Online

Frank Lautenberg United States Senator for New Jersey FOH I2IIMIAT6 RELEASB Contacts: Helissa Narins (Durbin) 202/225-3271 January 6, 1993 Steven Schlein (Lautenbarg) 202/224-SB85 RBA SHOKB -- ANlfOtIpCB BILL DAN 9lBnIIliO IN ALL FSD Y NASHINOTON -- U.S. Eep. Richard J. Duzbitt (D-I11.) and Senator Prank lautenbera (D-N.J.) today said the gnvironalantal Protection Agency (EPA) report on the dangers of secondhand satoke "coafirms what sany havg thought for years: you don't have to soioka to suffar the haraful effects of tobacco" and announced their plans to introduce legislation to protect millions of American children froa em+ironaental tobacco snoka. The long-axaited report entitled "8.spiratory Health iflscts of Passive Smoking: Lung Cancer and Other Disorders" confirms 14ie earlier draft reporc xbich proposed classifyrina secondhand sotoke as a Oroup A carcinogen -- the saaa classification given to other oanoer-aausins agents such as asbestos, bonsoao and arsenio. The repozt found that approxinately 3,000 lung cancer deaths a year can be attributed to secondhand stoks. Furthermore, secondhand aucke poses a severe respiratory health risk to children, causing 150,000 to 300,000 lover respiratory tract iniectioas in young children annually and additional episodes of aatb.a mxl tiwreased severity o£ astbaas in chiLdren who already have the diseas..

Th. Preventing Our Kids from InhalinQ Deadly Smoke (Pa0-RIDS) Act of 1993 prohibits smoking in all indoor facilities which provide federally- funded children's servicea except in areaa which axe not used to serve children and which are ventilated separately from the children's areas. -Our bill takes action to protect children frou the barmPhl but inviaibla Utreat of environaental tobacco ssoke,' Durbin and l.utenberg said. Durbin and Lautsnberg introduced a similar bill last year which would have required federally-fumded programs to establish a nonsmokiag poliey, if they provide health services to children under age 5 or provide other services primarily to children under age 9 such as Head Start, Vic, health and day eare progrsm . The bill was rpproved by the senate as part of H.A. 5677 but was dropped by a House-S.aate conference comfrittee. This y. »-'s bill gosa furth.r then the 1992 legislation by requiring a nonsmokins policy in all federally-funded prograas that primarily serve children under age 18 and extending the ban to all federal office buildings. A 81,000 fine would be assessed on the agency or program for each violation. The bill would allow an agency to request a waiver froas tjte nsoking ban if extanuating circumstances prewrtt couplianca and the head of the agency eatablishes and makes a good-faith effort to enforce an alternative nonsmoking policy. In addition, the bill requires the 8PA Administrator to establish a new Bnvironmental Tobacco Sabke Advisory Offica In the EYA to provide the public with information about the da4ers of environmental tobacco smoke. congressnan Bo.ano ltaazoli (D-Ky) is an or1ginal co-sponsor of the aouae bill. Durbin and Lautatberg authored the 1989 aroking ban on dooestic airline flights.