March 15, 2012 Hon.

Dean Skelos President Pro Tem and Majority Leader New York State Senate Capitol Building, Albany NY 12247 Hon. Kemp Hannon Chair, Health Committee New York State Senate Capitol Building, Albany, NY 12247 Re: Tobacco Use Prevention and Control Program Budget Dear Senators Skelos, DeFrancisco and Hannon, I write to ask that you agree to restore funding cut from the Tobacco Use Prevention and Control Program in the Executive Budget. On March 8 the U.S. Surgeon General issued a 900 page report, Preventing Tobacco Use Among Youth and Young Adults. Citing a large, robust, and consistent evidence base, the report endorses programs such as New Yorks. The report observed, State tobacco control programs that include a range of coordinated and complementary strategies have been effective at not only reducing tobacco use by youth and young adults, but also have resulted in overall reductions in smoking prevalence and concomitant decreases in state spending on tobacco-related health care. The report concluded, Providing and sustaining sufficient funding for comprehensive community programs, statewide tobacco control programs, school-based policies and programs, and mass media campaigns must be a priority. Unfortunately, in recent years New York has retreated from its commitment to tobacco prevention, cutting the programs budget from $85.5 million in 2006 -08 to $41.4 million in the current fiscal year. The Governor, as you know, has proposed an additional $5 million cut. At this level of support, the Program cannot be comprehensive, cannot support school-based programs and will have no mass media campaign, as prescribed by the Surgeon General. The American Cancer Society has suggested that the programs funding be restored to $54.4 million, the level it was only two years ago, in the midst of the economic downturn. At a minimum, we ask that you agree with the Assemblys position that the cutting must stop and the program be maintained at the FY 2011 12 level. Thank you. Sincerely, Hon. John DeFrancisco Chair, Finance Committee New York State Senate Capitol Building, Albany, NY 12247 Hon. Charles J. Fuschillo New York State Senate Capitol Building, Albany, NY 12247

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