ENZI CALLS ON NATION’S TOP HEALTH OFFICERS TO WORK TOGETHER TO ELIMINATE USE OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Mike Enzi (R-WY), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, today called on three of the nation’s top health officials to consider the use of a cap-and-trade program to shrink the of the tobacco market and save lives by cutting tobacco use – a proposal he has offered as an alternative to a Democrat proposal strongly supported by Big Tobacco. “We must help current users quit that deadly habit, and make sure that others, particularly children and adolescents, do not start,” Enzi wrote today in letters to Dr. Julie Gerberding, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Andrew von Eschenbach, Commissioner of Food and Drugs, and Dr. Elias Zerhouni, Director of the National Institutes of Health. Last week, Enzi introduced the “Help End Addiction to Lethal Tobacco Habits Act” (HEALTH Act), S.1834, a bill to wipe out tobacco use in America through an innovative cap-and-trade program that will shrink the of the tobacco market over the next 20 years. S.1834 is Enzi’s alternative to the Democrat tobacco bill, which has drawn wide support from Big Tobacco and some anti-smoking organizations. “I believe my plan has the potential to radically change how we tackle tobacco use in this country,” Enzi wrote. “I would like to invite you to meet with me to discuss my proposal and how we can work together towards our shared goal: eliminating youth smoking and tobacco product usage and significantly reducing the number of Americans dying from the use of tobacco.” “Your leadership is desperately needed to move this plan forward and reduce the death and disability caused by tobacco,” Enzi added. “I welcome your input and insight and hope you will join me in working to eliminate the use of this deadly product.”