MEDIA ADVISORY: 50TH ANNIVERSARY, SURGEON GENERAL REPORT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 3, 2014

CONTACTS: Peter Hamm, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, 202-296-5469

Julia Cartwright, Legacy®, 202-454-5596

Lauren Walens, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, 202-661-5763

Retha Sherrod, American Heart Association, 202-785-7929

Gregg Tubbs, American Lung Association, 202-715-3469

Jamie Poslosky, American Academy of Pediatrics, 202-724-3301

Bronson Frick, Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights, 510-841-3032

Public Health Leaders to Mark 50^th Anniversary

Of First Surgeon General’s Report on Smoking and Health,

Call for Bold Action to End the Tobacco Epidemic for Good

Wednesday, January 8, 2014, 10 AM ET

National Press Club, Zenger Room

WASHINGTON, DC – Leading public health and medical organizations will hold a press conference at 10 am on January 8, 2014, to mark the 50^th anniversary of the first Surgeon General’s report on smoking and health and call for a national commitment to end the tobacco epidemic for good.

The first Surgeon General’s report, issued January 11, 1964, was a historic turning point in the fight against tobacco use. The U.S. has made enormous progress over 50 years, cutting smoking rates by more than half and per capita consumption of cigarettes by more than 70 percent. New data being released next week demonstrates clearly that reducing tobacco use has had the single greatest impact on the nation's health over the last 50 years, but tobacco use remains the nation’s number one cause of preventable death, killing 443,000 Americans and costing the nation $193 billion in health care expenditures and lost productivity each year.

The public health and medical organization leaders will announce bold new goals for reducing tobacco use and challenge the nation to achieve them within a decade. On the anniversary of the first Surgeon General’s report, it’s time for the nation to commit to ending the tobacco epidemic and eliminating the death and disease it causes by fully implementing proven strategies: we can’t wait another 50 years. The goals the groups will propose are reachable if the nation has strong Food and Drug Administration regulation of all tobacco products, higher tobacco taxes, comprehensive smoke-free laws and well-funded tobacco prevention and cessation programs that include mass media campaigns.

What: Press conference to mark 50^th anniversary of first Surgeon General’s report on smoking and health

When: 10 am ET, Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Where: National Press Club, Zenger Room, 529 14^th Street NW, 13^th Floor, Washington, DC

Who: Matthew L. Myers, President, Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids

Michael Terry, son of ninth U.S. Surgeon General, Luther Terry (1961-1965)

Kenneth E. Warner, Distinguished University Professor of Public Health, University of Michigan, and co-author of two new studies on the impact of tobacco control policies since 1964.

Robin Koval, President and CEO, Legacy®

Mariell Jessup, M.D. President, American Heart Association

Dick Woodruff, Vice President of Federal Relations & Strategic Alliances, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network

Paul Billings, Senior Vice President, Advocacy and Education, American Lung Association

James M. Perrin, MD, FAAP, President, American Academy of Pediatrics