Supporting the Philadelphia Department of Public Health's proposal to U. S. Centers for Disease for grant funding of Tobacco Prevention and Control Programs.

WHEREAS

,

Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the Centers for Disease Control has issued a funding opportunity for health departments to implement sustainable, proven, population-based approaches for the reduction of tobacco use and the control of tobacco products; and

WHEREAS

,

Health departments of large cities with over 1 million people are eligible to apply directly for funding that will support programs for a 2-year period beginning on February 26, 2010; and

WHEREAS,

Applying c

ommunities must establish diverse coalitions including City government leaders, board of health members, schools, businesses, community and faith-based organizations, transportation and land use planners, parks and recreation officials, health care purchasers and providers, health insurers, academic institutions, and foundations; and

WHEREAS

,

The nation as a whole and most large cities have seen declines in tobacco use, while smoking among Philadelphia adults has increased over the last decade from 25.9% in 2000 to 27.3% in 2008, and based on the 2007 Behavioral Risk Factor Survey, which includes data for cities and metropolitan areas, Philadelphia has the highest smoking rate of the 10 largest U.S. cities, accounting for nearly 300,000 smokers Citywide; and

WHEREAS

, Approximately 3,000 Philadelphians die each year as a result of tobacco use, accounting for nearly 20% of all deaths in the City; and

WHEREAS

, The Philadelphia Department of Public Health has proposed innovative strategies for the reduction of tobacco use that will deliver measurable outcomes and provide long-term health benefits to the City's residents; and

WHEREAS,

now, therefore be it

RESOLVED

,

BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA

,

That we hereby fully endorse the application of the Philadelphia Department of Public Health for grant funding from the U. S. Centers for Disease Control for

Tobacco Prevention and Control Programs

FURTHER RESOLVED

, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the

U. S. Centers for Disease Control.

End