Posted: | December 5, 2022 11:22 AM |
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From: | Senator Gene Yaw |
To: | All Senate members |
Subject: | Protecting Children from Secondhand Smoke |
In the near future, I intend to re-introduce legislation (SB 667 of the 2021-22 Session) that would amend Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes to make it a summary offense to smoke in a vehicle in which children 12 years of age and younger are being transported. Exposing passengers, both children and adults, to secondhand smoke in the confined space of a car is extremely hazardous. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), secondhand smoke causes numerous health problems in infants and children, including more frequent and severe asthma attacks, respiratory infections, ear infections, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Furthermore, the U.S. Surgeon General has stated “Secondhand smoke contains more than 250 chemicals known to be toxic or carcinogenic (cancer causing), including formaldehyde, benzene, vinyl chloride, arsenic, ammonia, and hydrogen cyanide. Children who are exposed to secondhand smoke are inhaling many of the same cancer-causing substances and poisons as smokers.” Thank you for your consideration and please contact my office if you have any questions regarding this proposed legislation. |
Introduced as SB279