Smoke-Free Pennsylvania

Action Alert

Support a Smoke-Free Pennsylvania

Clean indoor air legislation, which would eliminate smoking in public places and workplaces, is currently before the Pennsylvania General Assembly. In the past, Pennsylvania legislators have been hesitant to enact this type of legislation despite scientific and popular support. Now is the time to encourage members of the Pennsylvania legislature to support the comprehensive Smoke-Free Pennsylvania legislation.

What You Can Do:

Please call and email or write a letter to your PA state representative and state senator urging them to support comprehensive Smoke-Free Pennsylvania legislation to protect all Pennsylvanians. Contact information for your legislators can be found on the LAMPa website, by contacting the LAMPa office at (717) 545-3500, or via email to lampa@lamp.org.

Access the LAMPa website at http://www.lamp.org. On the homepage, look for the box, “Find Your Elected Officals.” Enter your zip code and click “Find.” Click on the “State” tab. (In many locations, you will need the Zip+4 code to access the information. If you don’t know it, click on the button “Look up Zip+4” at the bottom of the open window.)

Status:

The current and most comprehensive legislation is known as the Smoke-Free Pennsylvania Act. This legislation passed the Senate in June and the House, with amendments, in July. Since then, legislators have been unable to compromise on a final version of the bill.

Talking Points:

» All Pennsylvanians have the right to breathe clean, safe, smoke-free air.

» Numerous studies have shown that second-hand smoke significantly increases the risk of heart disease, lung disease, cancer and other serious illnesses.

» The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has classified second-hand smoke as a Class A carcinogen, meaning it is a known carcinogen. In fact, second-hand smoke contains more than 60 carcinogens and more than 4,000 other chemicals, including formaldehyde, arsenic, cyanide and carbon monoxide.

» We, as Lutherans, believe we have a moral obligation to prevent the needless suffering and deaths associated with the diseases caused by second-hand smoke.

» Therefore, LAMPa’s advocacy agenda includes supporting legislation that would require 100% smoke-free indoor public places and workplaces, including eating and drinking establishments, in Pennsylvania.

» Twenty-three other states have passed clean indoor air laws. Studies in those states and other communities where smoke-free laws have been enacted have shown that restaurant, bar and tourism businesses have not been negatively affected.

» A May 2007 poll shows that Pennsylvanians believe all Pennsylvania workers should be protected from exposure to second hand smoke in the workplace. Of voters surveyed, 86% said restaurants and bars would be healthier for customers and employees if they were smoke free.

Background:

The faith community is engaged in a national effort to strengthen tobacco laws and educate people about the dangers of smoking because of collective concern for public health, access to health care, and the future of our children.

According to James Winkler, General Secretary, General Board of Church and Society, United Methodist Church, “Faith leaders are making tobacco a priority because for too long our clergy and our churches have been burying fathers, mothers, sisters and brothers who were addicted. This is a moral tragedy that must be dealt with in our country.”

As one of 23 religious organizations, the ELCA has signed on to the national effort. This Action Alert is the latest in a series of steps LAMPa has taken over the last few years to protect both smokers and non-smokers alike.

It would be appreciated if you would file a post-advocacy action report with the LAMPa office at lampa@lamp.org, including a summary of any advocacy you do on this issue.

For More Information:

Pennsylvania Alliance to Control Tobacco (http://www.pactonline.org)

American Lung Association (http://www.lungusa.org)

American Heart Association (http://www.americanheart.org)

ELCA Policy Base:

“Health is central to our well-being...Caring for the health of others expresses both love for our neighbor and responsibility for a just society”...Caring for Health: Our Shared Endeavor (2003)