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Issue Number 449            March 9, 2004

CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE

1. Action needed ASAP: Tell your senators, "Increase public health funding by increasing the federal tobacco tax."

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(1 of 1)
March 9, 2004
ACTION NEEDED ASAP: TELL YOUR SENATORS, "INCREASE PUBLIC HEALTH FUNDING BY INCREASING THE FEDERAL TOBACCO TAX."

The American Public Health Association (APHA), American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, and many other organizations are urging their constituents to call or email their U.S. senators ASAP. The U.S. Senate is now voting on the Harkin-Feinstein Amendment to increase funding for public health by increasing the federal tobacco tax. Following is information from APHA's website.

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An Amendment by Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) will increase public health funding by increasing the federal tax on tobacco. A significant portion of the increased revenue from the tobacco tax will go towards public health programs.

TO PHONE YOUR SENATORS
You can call your senators by connecting through the Capitol Hill Switchboard at (202) 224-3121.

SAMPLE [PHONE] SCRIPT
A.) As a public health professional and constituent I urge you to support the Harkin-Feinstein Amendment to increase funding for public health.

B.) Critical public health programs have been significantly under funded for decades. A YES vote on this important amendment will help to move us in the right direction. Thank you very much for your time and I look forward to receiving a response on the value that Senator ___________________ places on the public's health.

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TO EMAIL YOUR SENATORS
If you prefer to contact your senators electronically, please send them a letter through APHA's advocacy tool, which you can access by going to
http://www.capwiz.com/apha/mail/oneclick_compose/?alertid=5302851

Scroll down to the section titled Your Message, and complete the information requested in the right column. You can send the sample message to your senators just the way it is, or edit it, or add to it.

The staff of IAC thanks our readers for taking time to advocate for public health funding.