Hey Catalyst!

We need your help!  A bill has been introduced in the Minnesota House that would weaken the statewide smoke-free law, the Freedom to Breathe Act. It would allow smoking in some bars if they have a ventilation system.  This would be a BIG step backwards.  We know that ventilation does not eliminate the dangerous chemicals - including cancer-causing carcinogens - present in secondhand smoke.

Catalyst knows the Freedom to Breathe Act is important to protect the health of all Minnesota workers.  We marched to the capitol to thank our legislators for supporting the Freedom to Breathe, and now we need to let them know that they need to protect the Freedom to Breathe.

So, please give your Representative a call to let him/her know that you like the Freedom to Breathe Act as it is.  Tell them why the Freedom to Breathe is so important to you!  And if you were at the first Catalyst summit, let them know you feel so strongly that you've marched to the capitol to support the Freedom to Breathe!

You can find out who your Representative is and how to contact him/her here.

And here's some more info on what's been happening since the Freedom to Breathe Act went into effect:

• According to a study completed by the University of Minnesota Cancer Center, non-smoking hospitality workers experienced a more than 80 percent decrease in secondhand smoke-specific carcinogens in their bodies after the law took effect.

• The law is universally and overwhelming supported by Minnesotans.  A new poll found that 77 percent of Minnesotans support the law.

• representatives
• capitol
• smoke-free
• freedom
• to
• breathe
• protect