WHEREAS, Millions of American citizens suffer from serious diseases and die annually from tobacco related illnesses; and

WHEREAS, In addition to the personal stories of anguish and pain, tobacco related illnesses cost the American taxpayer's billions of dollars each year in health care costs. Tobacco related illnesses cost the Rhode Island taxpayers millions annually; and

WHEREAS, Not only do people who smoke have shorter lifespans than those who do not, but they are twice as likely to miss work due to illness, thus decreasing work productivity and costing businesses billions of dollars annually; and

WHEREAS, While the medical community has been warning the American public for years of the dangers caused by smoking, the tobacco companies have vehemently denied, in the face of overwhelming evidence, that nicotine is addictive and harmful to one's health. However, recently released internal documents from the tobacco companies show that they knew all along of the addictiveness of nicotine and the grave consequences of smoking cigarettes; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations hereby respectfully requests that Attorney General Jeffrey Pine join the other states in their lawsuit against the tobacco companies; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he is authorized and directed to transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Attorney General Jeffrey Pine.