Sen. Durbin & Public Health Leaders Call for Legislation to Protect Kids fr...( New Report to be Released at Pres...),Health

New Report to be Released at Press Conference

11:15 a.m. on Feb. 20 at Chicago Children's Museum

CHICAGO, Feb. 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Illinois public health organizations will hold a press conference at the Chicago Children's Museum on February 20 to release a new report that describes how tobacco companies take advantage of the lack of government regulation and have unleashed a new generation of deadly products aimed at hooking kids and preventing current smokers from quitting.

Senator Durbin is a cosponsor of legislation currently pending in Congress that would grant the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authority over tobacco products. The FDA regulates a box of macaroni and cheese and a tube of lipstick, but not a pack of cigarettes.

The legislation currently pending in Congress would give FDA the authority to ban candy flavored cigarettes, crack down on tobacco marketing and sales to kids, stop tobacco companies from misleading the public about the health risks of their products and require changes in tobacco products, such as the reduction or removal of harmful constituents. The tobacco companies' egregious products aimed at kids will be on display at the event.

What:

Press conference releasing new report & supporting legislation granting FDA authority over tobacco products in order to protect children from tobacco and save lives

Who:

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin

Mary Maryland, Ph.D., Incoming president, American Cancer Society, Illinois Division

Michael Mark, Executive Director, American Lung Association of Illinois, Illinois - Iowa

Dr. Kathy Grady, Chairperson, American Heart Association, Illinois Advocacy Chair (tentative)

Jennifer Farrington, Chief Operating Officer, Chicago Children's Museum

Where:

Chicago Children's Museum

700 East Grand Avenue, Suite 127, Chicago

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