U.S. Rep. Connolly, Inova Health System Physicians, Public Health Groups Call for Congressional Action to Protect Kids fr...(lung cancer death rates have yet to decl...),Health

Lung cancer is the leading cancer killer of women, having surpassed breast cancer in 1987, and smoking puts women and girls at greater risk of a wide range of deadly diseases, including heart attacks, strokes, emphysema and numerous cancers. Tobacco use also increases the risk for cardiovascular disease - the nation's No. 1 killer. About one-third of smoking-related deaths are related to heart disease and stroke.

"More than 20 million women and more than 1.5 million girls in the United States currently smoke," said Dr. David Ascher, Chairman, Department of Pediatrics, Inova Fairfax Hospital for Children. "That puts them at risk of lung cancer, heart attacks, emphysema and other deadly diseases caused by smoking. We call on the rest of the Virginia delegation to join Congressmen Connolly, Boucher, Scott, and Moran to protect public health by supporting legislation that would allow the FDA to regulate tobacco products."

Despite being the nation's number one cause of preventable death, tobacco products currently are virtually exempt from regulation. This legislation would:

• Restrict tobacco marketing that appeals to children.
• Ban misleading health claims such as "light" and "low-tar."
• Require larger, more effective health warnings on tobacco packages and advertising.
• Require tobacco companies to disclose the contents of their products.
• Grant the FDA authority to require changes in new and existing tobacco products.

In addition to the latest marketing campaigns, the report released today describes the tobacco industry's long history of targeting women and girls. In the 1920s, ads for Lucky Strike cigarettes first linked smoking to weight control by urging women to "Reach for a Lucky instead of a sweet." In the 1960s, Phi
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