Political Quotes

“this Congress is taking action to help protect world health in the fight against HIV AIDS. In Colombia we are spending over a billion dollars to fight the grip of the deadly coca trade that includes eradication of the coca plant and aid to farmers to attempt to shift their production. I find it ironic in the midst of this action by Congress that there are some that would have us reverse a long-standing policy and start promoting the sale of American tobacco overseas. Tobacco is the only legal product which, if used properly, will kill or at least inflict serious bodily damage. The effects on Americans are clear to most policy-makers. Close to 360,000 Americans will die of lung disease this year. It is the third largest cause of death responsible for one in seven deaths. More than 25 million Americans are now living with chronic lung disease, and the use of tobacco is the leading cause in that condition. Sadly, the impacts of tobacco-related lung disease is not limited to the United States. Tobacco was estimated to account for just over 3 million annual deaths worldwide in 1990, and that is rising to over 4 million deaths currently. It is estimated that tobacco attributable deaths will rise to 8.5 million within the next 20 years and 10 million in about 2030. According to the World Health Organization, while tobacco use is actually declining in many developed countries, it is increasing rapidly in those that are developing.”