President Obama Signs Historic Tobacco Legislation

New law represents a historic blow to the greatest public health menace of our time

Coming 45 years after the first Surgeon General's report linking cigarette smoking to lung cancer, this long-overdue law is the strongest action the federal government has ever taken to reduce tobacco use, the leading preventable cause of death in the United States. This new law will protect our children from the tobacco industry's predatory marketing, save countless lives and reduce the enormous health and financial burden that tobacco use imposes on our nation. Today is a great day for America's kids and health.

The public health community has spent more than 10 years fighting for this lifesaving legislation and though this new law by itself does not end the long battle against tobacco use, it is a giant step towards achieving the goal of significantly reducing — and eventually eliminating — the death and disease caused by tobacco.

Our work is not done. We have an important role to play as the law goes through the implementation process as well as in the upcoming health care reform debate, where tobacco prevention and cessation programs must be given their due attention.

Please consider making a contribution today to help us in the ongoing fight against the terrible toll of tobacco.