Policy
Illinois Went Smoke Free on January 1
Governor Rod Blagojevich signed legislation July 23 making Illinois the 22nd smoke free state in the nation. It is the most comprehensive legislation in the country and promises to save thousands of lives in Illinois each year.
The historic signing ceremony was filled with cheers and tears, celebrating the success of the law. Legislators, volunteers and advocates expressed gratitude to those who have spent years working to achieve this important public health goal.
The statewide law which bans smoking in virtually all public and workplaces went into effect January 1, 2008.
The Importance of Advocacy
Legislative action has a lasting impact on the lives of all people in the Chicago metropolitan area, especially those with lung disease. Our policy initiatives address long term concerns and focus not only on asthma, COPD, and lung cancer, but on the causes of these and many other respiratory diseases.
For this reason, we support:
Clean technology as an avenue towards reduced emissions for cleaner outdoor air; Smoke free policies to reduce indoor air pollution; Heath education as a means to healthy living and; Research to improve our understanding of respiratory disease and its causes.
In order to best fulfill our mission, RHAMC dedicates time and resources to community partnerships and initiatives for policy, research, and education.
We work with local hospitals, health organizations, faith based groups, elementary schools, high schools and colleges, legislators, business people, restaurant owners, researchers, workers, parents and patients, in an effort to meet the needs of the community through effective communication and meaningful collaboration.
Our dedicated staff, volunteers, and coalition members have worked on the following public policy campaigns:
Smoke Free Chicago, Smoke Free Cook County, Smoke Free Illinois, the Illinois Campaign to Clean up Diesel Pollution, improved insurance coverage of asthma medication, increased tobacco tax, and the right for young people with asthma and allergies to carry their inhalers and epi-pens at school.
Sign up for E-Advocacy to learn more about our ongoing advocacy efforts and how you can help improve the lung health of your community.
