Tobacco-Free Kids Action Fund Congratulates Rahm Emanuel on Re-Election as Chicago Mayor
WASHINGTON, April 8, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is a statement of Matthew L. Myers, President, Tobacco-Free Kids Action Fund:
The Tobacco-Free Kids Action Fund congratulates Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel on his re-election to a second term. We were proud to endorse Mayor Emanuel in recognition of his strong leadership in fighting tobacco use and reducing Chicago's youth smoking rate to record lows. We look forward to working with him to further reduce tobacco use and make Chicago an even healthier city.
Chicago's high school smoking rate reached a record low of just 10.7 percent in 2013, a stunning decline of nearly 60 percent since 2001.
Mayor Emanuel has long demonstrated a commitment to protecting Chicago's kids against the scourge of tobacco, the nation's number one cause of preventable death. His innovative efforts have made Chicago a real leader in this fight.
Under Mayor Emanuel, Chicago has aggressively implemented proven strategies to reduce tobacco use, including increasing the city's cigarette tax; strengthening the comprehensive smoke-free air law to include electronic cigarettes; banning the sale of flavored tobacco products, including menthol-flavored cigarettes, near schools; and conducting strong public education campaigns.
We urge other cities across the country to emulate Chicago's actions and successes to help make the next generation tobacco-free.
The Tobacco-Free Kids Action Fund is a nonpartisan 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization affiliated with, but separate from the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The Action Fund works to reduce the devastating toll of tobacco use and secondhand smoke nationally and in Chicago by mounting advocacy and electoral campaigns in support of policies that prevent and reduce tobacco use.
SOURCE Tobacco-Free Kids Action Fund
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