American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network:
Statement on Signing Westchester County’s E-Cigarette Bill into Law
NEW YORK, NY – June 10, 2015 – Westchester County Executive Robert Astorino has signed a measure into law that will control the availability of e-cigarettes in the county. Michael Davoli, New York metro government relations director of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) released the following statement on the new law.
“ACS CAN applauds Westchester County Executive Robert Astorino and the Westchester County Legislature for passing and enacting this legislation that will control the usage of e-cigarettes in all workplaces, including restaurants and bars, and other places that do not allow smoking. This new law will prevent people in Westchester County from being exposed to the unknown dangers of e-cigarettes and to prevent the addiction of more people, including our teenagers, to deadly nicotine and exposure to known carcinogens. It will also help ensure that enforcement of existing smoke-free laws is not compromised, and that the public health benefits of smoke-free laws are not undermined.
“In the last year, there has been a significant increase in the sale of e-cigarettes nationally and usage among high school students nationally has tripled. ACS CAN is pleased that now Westchester County residents are added to those in New York City, Suffolk County, Cattaraugus County, Erie County and Tompkins County in New York State with such a public health law. This comprises 61 percent off all new Yorkers.
“Similar legislation (S.2202-A, Hannon and A.5955-A, Rosenthal) is on the New York State Senate Floor and in the Assembly Codes Committee. The legislature and governor must protect the health of New Yorkers by enacting this legislation this session.”
About ACS CAN
ACS CAN, the nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society, supports evidence-based policy and legislative solutions designed to eliminate cancer as a major health problem. ACS CAN works to encourage elected officials and candidates to make cancer a top national priority. ACS CAN gives ordinary people extraordinary power to fight cancer with the training and tools they need to make their voices heard. For more information, visit www.fightcancer.org.
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