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Advocacy Highlight:
Thank You Letter to Representative Brenda Lawrence
June 15, 2021
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Washtenaw County Medical Society BULLETIN
FALL 2021
June 15, 2021
The Honorable Brenda Lawrence
The Honorable Brenda Lawrence United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Representative Lawrence: Dear Representative Lawrence:
Thank you for joining the April 15 letter led by Representative Robin Kelly, Chair of the Thank you for joining the April 15 letter led by Representative Robin Kelly, Chair of the
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menthol cigarettes. We are grateful for your leadership and commitment to advancing health menthol cigarettes. We are grateful for your leadership and commitment to advancing health
equity and protecting children from tobacco addiction. equity and protecting children from tobacco addiction.
As stated in the letter, the tobacco industry must no longer be permitted to use menthol cigarettes
As stated in the letter, the tobacco industry must no longer be permitted to use menthol cigarettes
to profit at the expense of the health of Black Americans. FDA’s own scientists and numerous
to profit at the expense of the health of Black Americans. FDA’s own scientists and numerous other scientific experts have concluded that menthol cigarettes make it easier for children to start
other scientific experts have concluded that menthol cigarettes make it easier for children to start smoking and have a devastating impact on the health of Black Americans, who are more likely to
smoking and have a devastating impact on the health of Black Americans, who are more likely to die from tobacco-related diseases like lung cancer, lung and heart disease, and stroke. We share
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the tobacco industry’s efforts to lure youth and Black Americans into a lifetime of deadly disparities and protect the health of all Americans from a host of threats, we must put an end to
addiction.
the tobacco industry’s efforts to lure youth and Black Americans into a lifetime of deadly
addiction.
We thank you for standing up to the tobacco industry and leading the fight to prevent tobacco-
caused disease and death. We look forward to working with you to ensure that the FDA acts
We thank you for standing up to the tobacco industry and leading the fight to prevent tobacco-
expeditiously to issue proposed rules and finalize them to prohibit menthol cigarettes and
caused disease and death. We look forward to working with you to ensure that the FDA acts flavored cigars and that any tobacco industry attempts to undermine FDA’s authority are soundly
expeditiously to issue proposed rules and finalize them to prohibit menthol cigarettes and defeated. Please let us know how we can assist you as this effort to advance health equity and
flavored cigars and that any tobacco industry attempts to undermine FDA’s authority are soundly protect children from tobacco moves forward.
defeated. Please let us know how we can assist you as this effort to advance health equity and Sincerely,
protect children from tobacco moves forward.
1. African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council (AATCLC)
Sincerely,
2. American Heart Association
1. 2. 3. 4.
3. American Indian Veterans of Michigan
African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council (AATCLC)
4. American Lung Associations in Michigan American Heart Association
American Indian Veterans of Michigan American Lung Associations in Michigan