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Committee to Hear Testimony on Orie Bill Aimed at
Helping Pregnant Women to Stop Smoking
HARRISBURG -- The
State Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee will hold a public hearing on
September 13 in Pittsburgh to hear testimony on legislation to promote programs
aimed at helping pregnant women to stop smoking.
The hearing will be held on
Monday, September 13 from 10 a.m. to noon in the B-Level Conference Center Room
of the Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh.
The media and public are invited to attend.
Committee members will hear
testimony on a bill sponsored by Senator Jane Orie (R-Allegheny) that would
establish new Maternal Smoking Cessation and Prevention Programs within the
state Department of Health. Senate Bill 833 is currently being considered by
the committee. The panel will also discuss draft amendments that have been
suggested. They would require the Department of Health and the Department of
Public Welfare to develop comprehensive statewide programs for maternal smoking
cessation and prevention.
Orie said the programs are
intended to provide educational materials on the dangers and lasting harm caused
by smoking during pregnancy. Maternal smoking has been linked to many infant
problems, including premature births, low birth weights, respiratory problems,
mental retardation and some instances of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
Orie’s bill would direct the
Department of Health to establish smoking cessation and prevention programs with
revenues appropriated from the Tobacco Settlement Fund. In addition the
Department of Health would be required to provide retailers with educational
materials on the specific harms to the infant caused by maternal smoking and
resources available to help the mother stop smoking. Retailers would be
required to prominently display these materials in areas where cigarettes are
sold.
“Despite public research,
while many women are aware of the relationship between smoking and premature
birth and low birth weight, many do not know the specific and lasting harm that
may be caused by smoking during pregnancy,” Orie said. “A recent study found
that reducing smoking by one percentage point in the United States over seven
years would prevent 57,200 low birth weight in infants and save $572 million in
direct medical costs. Stopping maternal smoking can save lives ad help to
ensure that more babies are born healthy.”
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