R 329

2015 -- H 6254 Enacted 05/27/2015

H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

SUPPORTING THE EFFORTS OF STUDENT ADVOCATES FOR THE TAR WARS PROGRAM, TOBACCO FREE RHODE ISLAND, AND THE RHODE ISLAND ACADEMY OF FAMILY PHYSICIANS IN PROMOTING THE HEALTH OF RHODE ISLAND'S YOUTH

Introduced By: Representatives Maldonado, Ackerman, O`Grady, Fogarty, and Gallison

Date Introduced: May 27, 2015

WHEREAS, On Wednesday, May 27th of 2015, 5th grade students participating in the

Tar Wars Program, and members of Tobacco Free Rhode Island and the Rhode Island Academy

of Family Physicians gather for a special Tar Wars Program event to draw attention to the vital

importance of promoting the health and welfare of young people in our state; and

WHEREAS, The Tar Wars Program is a tobacco-free education program for fourth- and

fifth-grade students and was established to help empower the young people of our state in

advocating for their own health by talking to family members and friends about not smoking, and

the need to resist pervasive advertising messages and negative peer pressure; and

WHEREAS, Working in collaboration with Tobacco Free Rhode Island, the program

hopes to reduce the number of young people in our state who are using tobacco products by

educating them on the long- and short-term health risks of tobacco use and on their ability to

make good decisions; and

WHEREAS, Since the development of the program in 1988, more than 10 million

children have been reached worldwide. This year in Rhode Island, various fifth-grade students,

who have participated in the program, will be relaying their message of why tobacco-free policies

are important, to their respective legislators; and

WHEREAS, Issues include the necessity for a state mandated prohibition on smoking in

a vehicle with a child, and will focus on laws prohibiting Rhode Island stores from selling

flavored tobacco products that entice youth to start using, and eventually become addicted to

tobacco products; and

WHEREAS, Rhode Island's youth have a primary stake in the future of our great state

and it is vitally important to recognize, hear, and encourage their voices and participation; now,

therefore be it

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

Providence Plantations hereby strongly supports the noble efforts of student advocates for the Tar

Wars Program, Tobacco Free Rhode Island, and the Rhode Island Academy of Family Physicians

in promoting the health of young people in our state; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Gillian Kiley, MYRANDA Group.

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LC002727

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