Tobacco Documents Online

July 23; 1975 Honorable Carl Albert Speaker of the House of Representatives Washington, D! C'. 20515 Dear Mr. Speaker: As required by Section 8(a) of the Publie Health Cigarette Smoking;Act of 1969, enclosed is the 1'97$ report, on the health consequences of smol:ing: The recent scientific information reviewedi in the report reaffirms the previous evidence that cigarette smoking is a serious public health problem. It is a major contributor to the development of cardiovascular disease, various types of cancer, and respiratory disease. Dts tolli in illness and premature death is needless and preventable: The: recent literature: further refines our understanding, of the mechanisms by which smoking influences these disease states. Under this Act, I am also required to submit to you such recommendations for legislation as Ii deem appropriate. This Department has previously taken, a, posi'tion in support of 1'egislation~ which would' authorize the regulation of cigarettes through the power to ban the manufacture and sale of cigarettes exceeding what are considered excessively hazardous levels of tar, nicotine, carbon monoxide, and' other ingredients shown to be injurious to health. Thee extent to which the cigarette smoking public has over the years spontaneously moved towards this kind of self protection suggests that it would welcome the additional protection such~ legislation, would' bring, This Department, therefore, recommends to the Congress that it consider, legislation providing, this Departmenti or some other appropriate agency with the authority to set maximum pernussible:level's of hazardous ingredients in cigarettes. Sincerely, Caspar W. Weinberger Secretary For sale by the Superintendent of Documents;, U.S, Government Printing Office; Washington, D.C. 20402'-