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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
3Representatives wish to recognize the 5th anniversary of the 
4Smokefree Illinois Act on January 1, 2013, and to proclaim the 
5month of January as Smokefree Illinois Month; and
  
 
6    WHEREAS, Secondhand smoke is a major health hazard and 
7there is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke; 
8approximately 50,000 deaths each year are attributable to 
9secondhand smoke exposure according to the U.S. Surgeon 
10General, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and 
11the National Cancer Institute; and
  
 
12    WHEREAS, Separate smoking areas, air cleaning, or 
13ventilation does not eliminate exposure to secondhand smoke; 
14smokefree policies are the only effective protection from 
15exposure to secondhand smoke and smokefree laws provide 
16immediate health benefits, most notably a decline in heart 
17attack hospitalizations; and
  
 
18    WHEREAS, Hospitalizations in Illinois for tobacco-related 
19diseases have declined since the Smokefree Illinois Act was 
20enacted; it is estimated that more than 35,000 heart disease 
21hospitalizations among Illinois residents  have been prevented 
22because of the Smokefree Illinois Act, resulting in an 
 
 
HR1309- 2 -LRB097 23383 MST 72250 r

1estimated savings of $1.8 billion in hospital costs alone, 
2according to Illinois Department of Health data; and
  
 
3    WHEREAS, The Smokefree Illinois Act protects all residents 
4and visitors regardless of where they work or play and it 
5attracts visitors from states with little or no protection from 
6secondhand smoke; and
  
 
7    WHEREAS, The health and economic benefits of the Illinois 
8Smokefree Act are widely recognized; therefore, be it
  
 
9    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
10NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
11we recognize the 5th anniversary of the Smokefree Illinois Act 
12and proclaim the month of January as Smokefree Illinois Month 
13to remind the public about the benefits of protecting everyone 
14from the health risks associated with secondhand smoke and the 
15importance of prohibiting smoking in all public places and 
16workplaces; and be it further
  
 
17    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
18presented to the American Lung Association and the American 
19Cancer Society as an expression of our esteem and respect.