AUGUSTA – The Legislature's Health and Human Services Committee unanimously advanced legislation recently proposed by Rep. Anne Graham, D-North Yarmouth, to support public health initiatives and preserve youth-focused tobacco prevention efforts in Maine.
As amended, LD 1658 would provide sustainable, ongoing funding for the Fund for a Healthy Maine, which was created in 1999 with tobacco settlement money. It helps support tobacco prevention and cessation programs, health care access and public health infrastructure. However, the fund’s long-term financial stability is in jeopardy, in part due to declining settlement payments.
“The Fund for a Healthy Maine has played a really big role in helping to reduce tobacco use in Maine, especially among our young people,” said Graham. “If we allow the funding for this program to lapse, it would have really harmful consequences to public health in our state. This bill will ensure that we can continue the important work of preventing tobacco use and treating tobacco-related diseases.”
The bill received widespread support at its public hearing from public health organizations like the American Lung Association, the Maine Public Health Association and the Maine Medical Association.
After receiving unanimous, bipartisan approval in committee, the bill faces further votes in the full House and Senate.
Rep. Anne Graham is serving her fourth non-consecutive term in the Maine House of Representatives. Graham is a member of the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services and the Joint Standing Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs. She represents the community members of North Yarmouth and Gray.