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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2019 - 2020
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | November 4, 2019 02:45 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Dan Frankel |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Closing Clean Indoor Air Act Loopholes |
| Since a 1964 report from the U.S. Surgeon General, 2.5 million adults who were non-smokers died because they breathed secondhand smoke. Since then, smoking has been banned from a number of public spaces, including most restaurants and bars. Despite this progress, smoking is still permitted in a variety of shared spaces and workplaces, such as outdoor stadiums and other locations that minors tend to frequent. When exposed to secondhand smoke, young people in particular suffer from more frequent and severe asthma attacks, respiratory infections, and ear infections; exposure has even been connected to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). For adult non-smokers, exposure to secondhand smoke increases the risk of developing heart disease by 25–30% and the risk for stroke by 20−30%. Pennsylvanians should not have to choose between a job at the casino or a trip to a sporting event and their family’s health. These health risks can be avoided by closing the loopholes found in the Clean Indoor Air Act, including those that allow smoking in outdoor spaces, cigar bars, cigar lounges, casinos, private clubs, and drinking establishments. My bill will also address the increase in vaping-related illnesses by including the use of e-cigarettes within the definition of smoking, while also giving all localities the ability to enact smoke-free ordinances that are more protective than current state law. With these changes, Pennsylvania will join 39 states that do not preempt local governments from adopting more stringent, smoke-free rules for the health and safety of their residents. Please join me in preserving the health and quality of life of all Pennsylvanians by supporting this important legislation. |
Introduced as HB2298