05-R 191

2005 -- H 6382

Enacted 04/13/05

H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N

PROCLAIMING MAY 8, 2005 AS "RHODE ISLAND NO TOBACCO DAY"

Introduced By: Representatives Diaz, Slater, Almeida, Fox, and Watson

Date Introduced: April 13, 2005

     WHEREAS, Tobacco is the number one preventable cause of death in the United States,

responsible for 1 out of every 5 deaths each year in Rhode Island, 1,800 killed by active smoking,

and 200 killed by secondhand smoke; and

     WHEREAS, The economic cost of tobacco is staggering, $396 million every year in

direct medical costs in Rhode Island. These costs have increased 23% since 1993 ($80 million a

year), which translates to $283 million in lost productivity per year; and

     WHEREAS, The cost of pain and suffering of smokers with diseases or families left to

fend for themselves when smokers die 15-20 years prematurely cannot be calculated; and

     WHEREAS, Annual spending by tobacco companies for advertising and promotion in

Rhode Island increased in just one year from $24 million in 1999 to $35.7 million in 2000; now,

therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

Providence Plantations hereby recognizes May 8, 2005 as "Rhode Island No Tobacco Day".

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LC03050

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