Political Quotes

“I am proud to be with public health advocates such as the Presiding Officer, my very distinguished and eloquent colleague Senator Brown, and Senator Durbin, who was on the floor earlier today on this very subject which remains one of urgency and profound importance to the public health of this Nation. Indeed, if there is a public health threat, enemy No. 1 in the United States of America, it continues to be tobacco use and nicotine addiction. We talk a lot in this body, throughout the Congress and throughout the Nation, about reducing the costs of health care. If we were to cut tobacco use and nicotine addiction, it would drastically reduce diseases such as cancer and heart disease and lung problems which reduce the longevity of life in this country but also create enormous costs in treating those medical diseases. Indeed, the cost of tobacco in health care for this country is about $193 billion a year, not only in direct medical costs but lost productivity. I am proud to have fought--and fought successfully--through many of my years as attorney general of the State of Connecticut, working in alliance with other attorneys general, with private health advocates such as the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, the Heart and Lung Association, the American Cancer Society, and private advocates throughout the country who have achieved so much.…”