S. 27, Preserve Access to Affordable Generics Act
Cost estimate
for the bill as reported by the Senate Committee on the Judiciary on July 22,
2011
The document above is in pdf form so if clicking on it fails Please click and open in new window… Thank you
Over the last decade, we have made steady progress inThe CDC report, State Smoke-free Laws for Worksites, Restaurants,
and Bars – United States, 2000-2010, indicates approximately 88 million
Americans are still exposed to secondhand smoke and several states have
exemptions that put too many nonsmokers at risk. This remains a hurdle that must
be addressed with passage of strong legislation to close loopholes. Elected
officials, particularly those in the south, must do more to enact comprehensive
smoke-free laws and give citizens a greater opportunity to breathe clean
air.
For more information, visit the CDC
website.
Today, we’re celebrating a monumental victory in the fight against heart disease and stroke. Representing the American Heart Association’s 22 million volunteers, supporters and dedicated staff, AHA President Dr. Timothy Gardner and I were thrilled to stand with President Obama at the White House as he signed the bipartisan Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. This legislation represents another huge step toward breaking the deadly cycle of tobacco addiction that leads to an increased risk of heart disease and stroke for millions of Americans.
This bill, which had tremendous support from Republicans and Democrats alike, will give the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the clear authority to regulate the manufacturing, advertising and promotion of tobacco products in order to protect public health. The bill also focuses on limiting advertising that targets our kids. It is estimated that the legislation will result in an eleven percent decline in underage smoking over the next decade and will significantly reduce the annual $100 billion cost for tobacco-related illnesses in the U.S.
Why is this legislative victory so important? Nearly one-third of cardiovascular disease deaths are linked to smoking, and tobacco use is the single most preventable cause of heart disease and stroke. For generations, tobacco companies lied to the public about the deadly dangers of tobacco use. They lied about the addictiveness of nicotine. They made misleading health claims about light and low-tar products. And they shamelessly and aggressively marketed to children to attract new smokers. These unconscionable practiceswill finally be reined in with effective government oversight of an industry that has placed profits above the health of the American people.
American Heart Association volunteers and staff, along with our public health partners, have been working for over a decade to see this legislation become law. We are extremely proud to have played a major role in moving this legislation through Congress and to have had the opportunity to join our Congressional champions today in witnessing the bill signing.
This measure, along with many other policy initiatives the association supports on the local, state and national level, directly impacts our mission to build healthier lives free of cardiovascular disease and stroke. This historic public health victory would not have been possible without the tenacious efforts and unwavering support of our You’re the Cure advocates — the volunteers and staff who worked to generate Congressional and public support for the measure.
If you are not already involved, you too can play a vital role in American Heart Association legislative advocacy efforts. Start today by thanking Members of Congress and the President for making this legislation a reality. Visit heartprescription.org to send your email.
I would also like to extend a personal and very special thank you to former CEOs Cass Wheeler and Dudley Hafner, who devoted much of their AHA careers to advancing this issue by meeting with members of Congress and speaking out loudly about the deadly effects of tobacco on our nation’s youth.
And finally, while the FDA bill represents an important victory, the fight against tobacco is not over. We must continue to push for smoke-free workplace laws, higher tobacco excise taxes and funding for comprehensive smoking prevention cessation programs to help break the cycle of addiction and create a healthier environment for our families. We’re counting on your continued support to help us achieve these important goals.
Sincerely,
Nancy Brown
Chief Executive Officer
P.S. You can learn more about this bill and our other legislative issues and share your comments on our You’re the Cure blog. You may also want to join Cass Wheeler, our former CEO, on Twitter as he shares his thoughts on this historic win. Follow him @casswheeler
click on links for more green info …
**Dow Chemical designed solar shingles that can be nailed to a roof, testing to begin in 2010, initially manufactured in Midland MI
**Chris Campbell,pasadena,CA His most recent venture, www.caligreen.com is an eco-friendly apparel company located in Santa Barbara, California. Prior to Cali Green, Chris was the head of Sales Integration where he developed and lead several high performing teams of developers and designers at GorillaNation.com and AtomicOnline.com that produce revenues of over $8 Million per month.
**Global Star will be supplying the thin-film solar cells, of Tucson, AZ ( Global Solar )
**Solar Reserve filed an application to build a 150-megawatt solar farm that will store seven hours’ worth of the sun’s energy in the form of molten salt, a Santa Monica company. (SolarReserve )
**The Rice Solar Energy Project will be built in the Sonoran Desert east of Palm Springs ( Rice Solar Energy Project )
**Taja Sevelle,singer-songwriter, executive dir&founder of int’l non-profit Urban Farming,headquartered in Detroit;oversees 600 community gardens in 5counties&14cities,including Los Angeles&New York
**Bill Mckibben,writer/activist,Co-founder/Dir of 350.org ;is one of the largest groups fighting against global warming
**glenn croston, Ph.D., is a green scientist, author and entrepreneur. He has written five biology and chemistry books and is involved in developing entrepreneurial businesses with a focus on green research. He lives an environmentally-friendly life in both business and at home.
**Omar Freilla,founder of the Bronx umbrella org Green Worker Co-op,helps turn trash into green jobs
**Clean Edge Jobs …
Clean Edge Jobs specializes in connecting job candidates at every level with a range of clean-tech companies and other organizations leading the transition to a clean-energy economy. In addition to creating a profile and resume for employers to search, job seekers can use the Clean Edge Jobs website to search their growing database of green jobs by location, industry or job type. Employers can post jobs free of charge. Check it out at http://jobs.cleanedge.com.
**The websites below are also good sources of green-collar job postings:
** Warren Washington,head of the climate-change research section @the Nat Ctr for Atmospheric Res., was one of the first scientist to analyze climate change and it’s effect on the low-lying places in the coastal areas where a lot of African-Americans live.
** Majora Cater,in Hunts Pt Riverside Pk,SBronx,NY,2001 founded Sustainable S Bronx,to create green spaces
** Robert Bullard,sociologist/dir of the Environmental Justice Res Ctr@Clark Atlanta Univ., noticed almost all landfills/incinerators in Houston were located in predominately Black neighborhoods,inequity became his life’s work,Environment,race/politics,are all connected.
** Will.I.AM,song-writer, was inspired by Al Gore‘s inconvenient truth,wrote S.O.S.,Take Our Planet Back to enlightened fans about global warming,says he is brown but lives green
**Kerry Washington,actor lives green,says the green movement is about inequities, making and saving money, promotes going green by taking small step
** Xavier Bishop, Mayor of Moss Pt., Miss. River City,used to be a major industrial city,but the plants there damaged the city/environment,wanted to save his city/our environment,has partnered with groups: Inst for Sustainable Communities,promotes rebuilding with green products,tip: dont litter,most products don’t degrade.
** Kinari Webb,MD,founder,Health in Harmony in oakland CA and Indonesia,advocate for saving rain forests,stopping illegal logging a source of income,but floods/infection from mosquitoes are high as a result of tearing down rain forests.tip:avoid palm oil,major cause of rainforest destruction in Indonesia.
** Daniel Goleman, Phd,writer Ecological Intelligence, asks us to think beyond organic, recycled or fair trade, think about how the products we buy, use, and discard affects the environment.
** Bryant Terry,Eco chef/food justice activist&author uses cooking to illuminate the intersections among poverty, structural racism, and food insecurity.
** Carole Allen,founder,Help Endangered Animals,involved in saving turtles,started a foundation to save them,the Nat Marine Fisheries Serv invented a Turtle Excluder device to allow turtles to escape fishing and shrimp industry trawls.tip:don’t touch a sea turtle,call 866-Turtles if you see one in distress.
** Ron Gonen, co-founder and ceo,RecycleBank; recyclebank.com based in NYC,operates in 15States,they give recycle containers to every home w/a chip embedded in it. the weight is electronically recorded/points go into recyclebank,worth up to $400 a yr at stores such as target,whole foods,coca-cola,program saves money by diverting waste into recycling.tip:recycle because it costs more to take trash to landfills,our taxes are increased to pay for it.
** Ken Cook,co-founder Environmental Working Group,ewg.org , they investigate products to protect the environment/public health,score it and provide info to their members.
** Nneka Leiba, an environmental health researcher for the group Skin Deep Web site cosmeticsdatabase.com,W.DC tip: don’t use bottled water,an avg of 8toxic chems are in ea,also the travel to get it to your home produces emissions
Today, being the first day of July with a slow roll into Independence
Day next Monday, which most of us celebrate some do not with sparklers and fireworks just
seems sad in a way. I guess it does sound very dramatic but think about it will
this be the last real Independence Day some States will have faced with all the
changes Republicans are trying to implement and force upon their fellow
Americans all over the country. The change we can believe in
is just one less Republican in office, one less lobbyist , one less huge
insurance corporation like AIG or bank between Americans wanting Health-Care,
Energy and Educational REFORM.
The change we need is one that can be implemented incrementally and will probably take
years to complete. Yet Congress seemsto prefer to debate, stall, block the obvious and or go on break at least 2
times a month am i alone in wondering if they are even serious about getting
anything done or understand that this will take time and it will need
continuous tweaking. The financial crash has taken years to surface as well as expose
what has to be the most complicated and somewhat corrupt system that branches
out globally. I am still asking why the public is not willing to give President
Obama time to work on unwinding the crap the last guy left but it is obvious people have forgotten who did what and
when. While it has been a couple of years we cannot afford to forget who slowed down the stimulus, who said let’s
stop and do tax cuts and who not only threatened filibusters but have done so
on everything that could help Americans and will continue to hold the middle
class hostage until the election of a new President. I know most folks know
that the Obama admin tried to get the stimulus out there quickly but the party
of no held it up knowing no matter what happened Republicans would get money as
well. It was a disappointing, sad and an offensive awakening to watch as the
party of no acted so calculating. Reports of Republicans taking credit for the stimulus,
others asked for more funds while talking trash about the President of the
United States. I was upset about it then and believe now that the stimulus
dollars should NOT have been used to plug state budget holes but for jobs, jobs
jobs or to make stuff, turn to wind and solar plants and or farms with a move
to end our dependence on nuke plants.
I do not understand how anyone with common sense fails to see
the Republican mission for what it is as Mitch McConnell said: to make President Obama a one term President which includes
eliminating the middle and lower classes and who used to be their fellow
Americans. The joke that was called The Pledge to America has now become a rude and scary reality filled with what looks
like an attempt to ban abortions, eliminate worker rights, Medicare/Medicaid
and social security just to name a few while making sure those with public
service positions become unemployed. If you need reminding that would be our
Teachers, Police, Firefighters, and other first Responders. I don’t know about you but the scam that is
the Republican party is somewhat scary. I wake up wondering just which
Republican controlled state is moving so far to the far right that its citizens
will lose their rights every day. I have concerns that people are not taking this thing as serious as Republican Mayors,
Governors, legislators and their flunkies are. There was a time when we could
depend on a correction by the upper court system or what used to be a fair and
balanced application to whatever the issue was. Now, the Court Systems seem
filled with republican activists given too much power by the Bushies. I get it
not all of my fellow democrats agree with what President Obama is doing we need
people to connect the dots maybe think about the bigger picture. I want folks
to think about what your neighborhood will look like if Republicans are
successful in their mission and it cannot be a good image. For example, I know
we all heard about the man who failed to pay his fire protection fee so the
local fire department let his house burn down. I have to admit i was stunned by
that story and clearly take some things for granted because I like other
Washingtonians pay into a system, which we assume covers all things related to
911. I am still shocked and amazed that some States managed to privatize such
services and should be re-assessed as folks across the country pay their
Government Representatives to Represent them which as we are all finding out
lately that seems to be less and less of a reality. I don’t understand. Is this
not their USA too? Why not help create solutions for your fellow American. I ask those people
who voted for Republicans in November if these are the kinds of politicians we
need or want as public servants. If you believe in equality, the right to choose and the pursuit of happiness, you
cannot continue to vote against your best interests. We are still a Country in trouble that needs
both political parties to solve this crisis and yes, the crisis is still in
effect; what is happening in Congress is unacceptable. Republicans are acting
like the USA is a playground drawing and redrawing lines in the sand instead of
agreeing to help solve the problem that we face and while they throw out nasty
rhetoric they have decided to put Grover Norquist, Koch Brothers , Chamber of
Commerce, Wall Street and others with Corporate interests first.
Other News …
Dominique Strauss-Kahn released on own
Minnesota government shuts down over
Wall Street on track for best week in nearly a year
Nine killed as Syrian protests spread
Clinton: ‘The Syrian government is running out of
time’
US debt ceiling deadline still August
New York set to lift fracking
ban
CSPAN …
NASA Administrator Discusses Space Shuttle Program at National Press Club
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Today, President Obama speaks to Workers at Chrysler Group Toledo Supplier Park in Toledo, Ohio at 12:20pm ET. It definitely is worth going to whitehouse.gov/live and watching because it is proof that not only was helping the auto industry the right thing to do it saved millions of jobs as well contrary to whatever Presidential candidate Romney stated.
About a year ago, this time the House and Senate were quite busy debating, voting up or down on if they should help their fellow Americans while confirming or blocking President Obama’s appointees. The Republican Tea Party members of Congress have become less of that description we use for a Public Servant and more like Corporate Tools. Republicans who seemingly are being backed financially by folks like the Koch brothers on the State level while their Federal brotherhood continues to put obstacles in the way of any great or big moves to keep the Govt out of the ditch almost three years later.
Now, with Republicans finally coming forward to announce their bids to run for President in 2012, with the obvious quest to complete the divide and conquer Americans. It is not lost on most of us that we all should make an effort to remind our fellow Americans just who is responsible for this slow sometime stalled path toward the 21st Century. It is obvious that not only is the Republican tea party refusing to move into the 21st Century they have not only voiced attitudes that offend women, children and minorities but have passed legislation that could put them at more risk or in the streets while defunding government jobs will shove middle class workers into minimum wage earner status. I will admit I only skimmed that Pledge to America but it is clear it was the 19page lie about putting Americans back to work by those job creators who need to keep those bonus dollars in order to do so. I ask Speaker Boehner, Where are the Jobs. I have actual bumper stickers that say that because well after the midterm elections the Republican led House has been a big failure to create anything to help their fellow Americans. If you would like a “Where are the Jobs Mr. Boehner Bumper Sticker let me know
I also admit being slightly surprised by the outcome of the midterm elections. I was surprised at how many drank the Kool-Aid and who actually listened to “the media” instead of asking questions to find out for themselves that in fact far more people in “the media” are a part of the farce that is the Republican Tea Party. Those Republican Tea Party lies won the House of Representatives for only a few months because as we all know; the truth will set you free. The move to attack Roe V Wade,redefine rape, HR3 a Woman’s right to choose while Republicans defunding it offended many but it was not until the effort to end Medicare, as we know it that people began to see the light. The midterm elections definitely stalled American progress but it also uncovered and highlighted the Republican agenda. The abuses of States Rights by Republican Governors in at least ten states willing to cut slash and burn worker rights, women, children, the poor and services that would help them. However, that slogan about taking back their country no matter how offensive is worth noting and remembering because it is not a partisan slogan it is a discriminatory rally cry that we all need to push back on … I believe in equality for all on all levels which is not at all how Republicans feel as a whole in my opinion.
I don’t know about you but any person running for President must represent ALL Americans not a select few. Therefore, from now on my effort will be to make all those comments from Republicans stepping up to any mic wanting to become President of the United States caught on tape or otherwise available so their truths will be set free.
The info below is from June and July of 2010 … attitudes and words do matter
Republicans again blocked Democrats’ attempt to extend jobless benefits to millions of unemployed Americans last night. Senator Harry Reid sent a strong message back to the Minority after they prevented passage of the bill.
July 1, 2010
TYT comments on Micheal Steele -his behavior and comments regarding Thurgood Marshall
June 30, 2010
At today’s Supreme Court confirmation hearing, Senator Al Franken paid tribute to and defended the distinguished record of Justice Thurgood Marshall.
June 30, 2010
During day three of Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan‘s confirmation hearing, Senator Al Franken focused a portion of his Q&A with the Solicitor General on the Citizens United case.
July 01, 2010
In the video below Sen Tom Corburn asks Elena Kagan about Freedom/ Inferring that better days were before women & minorities had rights– TYT
June 30, 2010
At today’s confirmation hearing, Senator Amy Klobuchar asked Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan to talk about the challenges women face in the legal profession and with respect to career choices in general.
Be a Seed for Change 
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