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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate wish to
3recognize the 5th anniversary of the Smoke Free Illinois Act on
4January 1, 2013, and to proclaim the month of January as Smoke
5Free 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;
14smoke-free policies are the only effective protection from
15exposure to secondhand smoke and smoke-free 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 Smoke Free Illinois Act was
20enacted; it is estimated that more than 35,000 heart disease
21hospitalizations among Illinois residents have been prevented
22because of the Smoke Free Illinois Act, resulting in an

 

 

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1estimated savings of $1.8 billion in hospital costs alone,
2according to Illinois Department of Health data; and
 
3    WHEREAS, The Smoke Free 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
8Smoke Free Act are widely recognized; therefore, be it
 
9    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL
10ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we recognize the 5th
11anniversary of the Smoke Free Illinois Act and proclaim the
12month of January as Smoke Free Illinois Month to remind the
13public about the benefits of protecting everyone from the
14health 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 Smoke Free Illinois Coalition as an expression
19of our esteem and respect.