HR1037 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1037 LRB098 20898 GRL 58524 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to commend CVS Caremark on its decision to stop selling tobacco products in its stores; and

WHEREAS, CVS Caremark has decided to stop selling tobacco products at its more than 7,600 stores across the United States by October 1, 2014, making it the first national pharmacy chain to take this step in support of the health and well-being of its patients and customers; and

WHEREAS, Decades of tobacco control efforts have greatly reduced the prevalence of cigarette smoking, but the rate of reduction in smoking prevalence has stalled in recent years; 42 million people continue to smoke; and

WHEREAS, The impact of tobacco on our nation's children is striking - 90% of adult smokers began at or before age 18 and an estimated 5,600,000 kids alive today will die prematurely as a result of tobacco-related disease unless current trends are reversed; and

WHEREAS, Studies have demonstrated a relationship between tobacco use and geographic density of stores that sell cigarettes; reducing the density of stores that sell tobacco can help reduce smoking among young people; and

WHEREAS, CVS Caremark's decision to cease tobacco sales underscores its role in the United States' evolving healthcare system; pharmacies are becoming more involved in chronic disease management to help those with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes - all conditions that are exacerbated by smoking; and

WHEREAS, Smoking is the leading cause of premature disease and death in the United States, killing more than 480,000 Americans and costing the nation an estimated $289,000,000,000 in medical costs and lost productivity annually; and

WHEREAS, CVS Caremark has also pledged to help millions of Americans quit smoking; this spring the company will launch a national smoking cessation program with the goal of helping millions of Americans quit smoking and get healthy; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate CVS Caremark for stopping the sale of tobacco products in its stores; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to CVS Caremark as an expression of our gratitude.