SENATE RESOLUTION

                         1996-8703

By Senators Moyer, Newhouse, Anderson, Hale, McCaslin, Deccio, Morton, Long, Oke, Zarelli, Winsley, Rasmussen, Fairley, Thibaudeau, Franklin, Cantu, Sellar, Prince, Wojahn, West, Goings, Haugen, Drew, Sheldon, Kohl, Loveland, Spanel and Bauer

     WHEREAS, It is the policy of the Washington State Senate to recognize young people who act in a responsible manner and who make good choices; and

     WHEREAS, It is vital to the health of our state and nation to encourage young people not to begin smoking and to encourage people who do smoke to quit; and

     WHEREAS, Mike Podobnik of Spokane and Misty Jurgensen of SeaTac have been chosen to represent Washington state in the Smoke Free Class of 2000 program, administered by the American Cancer Society, the American Lung Association and the American Heart Association; and

     WHEREAS, The Washington State Health Report shows that seventy-five percent of smokers become addicted to tobacco while in their teens; and

     WHEREAS, Smoking by children is on the rise and nearly three out of four high school smokers are still smoking seven to nine years later; and

     WHEREAS, Children do not comprehend the serious economic and health related costs of tobacco use; and

     WHEREAS, Children are influenced by tobacco advertising and promotion; and

     WHEREAS, Most children want to quit smoking within a few years of using tobacco; and

     WHEREAS, The U.S. Surgeon General reports that smoking is the single most important preventable cause of death in our society; and

     WHEREAS, In Washington state in 1990, an estimated 7,993 deaths were attributable to all uses of tobacco;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate honor Mike Podobnik, Misty Jurgensen and all young people who participate in activities and programs to discourage smoking among their peers; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to Mike Podobnik of Spokane; Misty Jurgensen of SeaTac; Judith A. Billings, Superintendent of Public Instruction; Bruce Miyahara, Secretary of the Department of Health; Alison Olzendam, Principal of Chase Middle School, Spokane School District No. 81; Roy Adler, Principal of Chinook Middle School, Highline School District No. 401; Ann Marie Pomerinke, Executive Vice President, American Cancer Society, Washington Division; Mark Rieck,  Executive Director, American Heart Association of Washington; Astrid Berg, Executive Director, American Lung Association of Washington.

I, Marty Brown, Secretary of the Senate,

do hereby certify that this is a true and

correct copy of Senate Resolution 1996-8703,

adopted by the Senate March 4, 1996.

MARTY BROWN

Secretary of the Senate