ATLANTA – State Representative Sharon Cooper (R-Marietta), chairwoman of the House Public and Community Health Committee, was recently named by House Speaker Jon Burns (R-Newington) to serve as the chair of the House Study Committee on the Costs and Effects of Smoking.
“Currently, more than 16 million Americans are living with a disease caused by smoking,” said Rep. Cooper. “This staggering number is motivation enough to establish a study committee to investigate the costs and effects of smoking. Speaker Burns and my fellow House members will continue to work to improve the health and well-being of Georgians, including the preventable conditions that can come from long-term use of tobacco products. During the interim, my colleagues and I will delve further into the real impact that smoking can have on Georgians – including its burden on Medicaid, Medicare and workforce productivity. I look forward to working alongside committee members and experts to explore evidence-based solutions that encourage smoking cessation and prevent related diseases.”
Created by House Resolution 304, this study committee will examine the cost of smoking, including short-term and long-term health care costs, the impact on Medicaid and Medicare, childhood health costs resulting from secondhand smoke exposure and the loss of worker productivity attributed to smoking.
Speaker Burns also appointed the following study committee members: State Representatives Michelle Au (D-Johns Creek), Lee Hawkins (R-Gainesville), Ron Stephens (R-Savannah) and Debbie Buckner (D-Junction City).
Representative Sharon Cooper represents the citizens of District 45, which includes a portion of Cobb County. She was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1996 and currently serves as Chair of the Public and Community Health Committee. She also serves on the Human Relations & Aging, Intragovernmental Coordination, Judiciary Non-Civil, Regulated Industries and Rules committees, as well as the Special Committee on Healthcare. She also serves as an Ex-Officio member of the Health Committee.
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