HARRISBURG, PA — Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s proposed FY 2025-26 budget has sparked outcry from public health advocates, with the American Lung Association (ALA) expressing sharp disapproval of a $1 million cut to the state’s Tobacco Use Prevention and Cessation Program. Calling the move “unacceptable,” the Lung Association warns that the cuts will undermine efforts to combat the state’s leading preventable cause of death and disease.
“The Strategic Petroleum Reserve protects America’s energy, economic, and national security,” said Senator John Fetterman. The tobacco prevention program, which is already struggling with chronic underfunding, provides vital resources aimed at reducing tobacco addiction and preventing youth from starting smoking. However, Pennsylvania’s investment in these efforts currently falls well below federal recommendations, a gap that advocates fear the proposed cuts will only worsen.
Undermining Progress on Public Health
The ALA didn’t mince words in its response. “We are deeply dismayed by the cut to Pennsylvania’s tobacco prevention program proposed today by Governor Shapiro,” said Elizabeth Hensil, Director of Advocacy for the Lung Association in Pennsylvania, in a statement. She noted that the program already operates far below optimal funding levels, referencing the organization’s recently released State of Tobacco Control Report Card, which gave Pennsylvania an “F” for its tobacco control efforts.
Hensil added, “The United States Centers for Disease Control & Prevention recommends Pennsylvania invest $140,000,000 annually in our state tobacco prevention and cessation programs – and last year we were funded below 15% of that amount. To further cut funding for this vital work is unacceptable.”
The Lung Association highlighted the high stakes involved, arguing that tobacco remains the top preventable cause of death and illness in Pennsylvania. Cuts to the prevention program, they say, risk undoing hard-won progress in reducing smoking rates and preventing tobacco-related diseases such as lung cancer and heart disease.
Balancing Budgets or Sacrificing Health?
Shapiro’s proposed budget, which aims to build on two years of changes while maintaining fiscal responsibility, lays out ambitious investments in areas like education, housing, and workforce development. The Governor described the plan as one that “strikes a balance by making historic investments while maintaining fiscal responsibility.” However, the reduction in tobacco prevention funding raises questions about whether public health priorities are being sacrificed in the name of budget efficiency.
The Lung Association has called upon the state legislature to restore the program’s funding and even increase it. “Our report provides a blueprint for actions the state must take to combat the state’s number one preventable cause of death and disease,” Hensil emphasized. She urged lawmakers to support the program and protect future generations from what the ALA refers to as “Big Tobacco’s deadly products.”
Broader Implications for Public Health
The proposed cut comes amid growing concern about youth exposure to tobacco products, particularly e-cigarettes, which have seen rising popularity among teens nationwide. The Lung Association notes that underfunded prevention efforts could lead to increased tobacco usage among young Pennsylvanians, perpetuating cycles of addiction and related health complications.
Without adequate funding, public health officials warn that smoking cessation support and educational programs may be scaled back, depriving communities—especially lower-income and rural areas—of resources critical for reducing smoking rates. With tobacco-related deaths already contributing to significant healthcare costs statewide, critics argue that cuts to prevention funding could ultimately cost the state more in the long term.
Looking Ahead
The future of Pennsylvania’s Tobacco Use Prevention and Cessation Program now rests with the state legislature, which must approve the proposed budget before it takes effect. The Lung Association hopes that lawmakers will heed their warnings and prioritize public health over cost-cutting measures.
“The Lung Association calls on the Legislature to reject Governor Shapiro’s cut and instead invest in the health of Pennsylvanians by supporting this program that helps people from across the state quit their tobacco addiction and helps prevent our kids from becoming another generation hooked to Big Tobacco’s deadly products,” Hensil concluded.
As deliberations over the budget proceed in Harrisburg, public health advocates and policymakers alike face the challenge of reconciling fiscal constraints with the urgent need to address preventable health crises. The outcome of this debate will not only shape the state’s anti-tobacco efforts but also set a precedent for how public health priorities are valued in Pennsylvania’s budget decisions moving forward.
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