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A Message from James Standish, North American Religious Liberty Association: November 2007

by  James D. Standish, Esq., Seventh-day Adventist Church Liaison to the United States Congress     http://ReligiousLiberty.info/

Dear Friends of Freedom:

As I walked into the Congressman's office, I wondered how our meeting would go. It isn't my usual practice to keep a member of the U.S. Congress waiting for 35 minutes. When I arrived late for our appointment, his chief of staff shook her head and said, "So, what's your excuse." I felt like I was back in elementary school!

As we sat and waited for the man himself, I said a silent prayer: "Lord, You said all things work together for good. I ask you to make this situation work together for good - not for me, but for Your glory." When I looked up, the Congressman's door opened and out he walked, larger than life. "Don't tell me, he laughed, "the dog ate your homework!"

I didn't even proffer an excuse. After all, whatever it was in my life that had held me up wasn't going to impress a man charged with legislating for the most powerful nation in the world. "Come on in, and sit down," he insisted. I sank deep into the leather couch in his office and we began to talk." Thanks so much for your time, Congressman. I represent the Seventh-day Adventist Church and I'm here to talk about a bill designed to stop the exploitation of kids by the tobacco companies."

"OK, so you want to know why I'm not sponsoring the bill, don't you," he responded.

We know you are interested in public health. We know there is a lot of effort to kill this bill, so, yes, that is why we're here," I responded warmly.

"Alright, go ahead," he said, eyeing me warily.

This year, 400,000 Americans will die prematurely from tobacco-related illnesses," I began. "These are 400,000 moms and dads, sons and daughters, suffering almost unimaginable pain from a product that, because of a loophole in our laws, is almost entirely unregulated. Over 90% of the people who die became addicted to cigarettes when they were kids. Hundreds of thousands of American kids will develop respiratory illnesses because of the secondhand smoke they breathe at home and in the car. It's time to take common sense steps to protect our kids from this scourge."

The Congressman took it all in, "So what does the bill accomplish?"

First, it requires tobacco companies to operate transparently. If you buy yogurt or peanut butter, the manufacturer must list the ingredients on the package. Not so with cigarettes. Tobacco companies add a number of toxic ingredients to their products, but don't inform their customers what those ingredients are. The vast majority of smokers want to quit. However, in order to keep them hooked, studies show that tobacco companies have been increasing nicotine levels - without disclosing this on their product labels. Why should they? They enjoy a big loophole in the law. They can add toxins, manipulate nicotine to increase addiction, and they do it all in secret because we let them. This bill will change that."

"Alright," he said, "anything else?"  "Yes, it would require a larger health warnings - it would ban companies from making misleading health claims, and it will outlaw a number of techniques used to market to children." "How big of a problem is marketing to kids?" he asked as he leaned forward.

"It is a very serious problem. The tobacco industry spends $12.4 billion - that's with a capital B - advertising in the U.S. alone every year. And it works. As I said before, 90% of smokers start smoking before the end of their teenage years. In addition, smokers are very loyal to their chosen brand. These are sophisticated corporations; they aren't going to spend billions of dollars on advertising without focusing on the people most likely to take up their deadly habit - kids. Why spend money trying to change adult buying habits - that is very, very hard to do - when you can hook kids while they are young, knowing they will be loyal to the brand they start with. That's why the tobacco companies use cartoon characters and advertise in magazines that have high adolescent readership. That is why they use themes in advertising that appeal to kids - because that is their primary market."

"Congressman, I have to be honest - we don't know how many lives will be saved by passing this bill. Maybe this will result in only saving 50,000 of the 400,000 Americans who would otherwise die of tobacco-related illnesses each year, maybe 100,000. But how many bills can we pass that are budget-neutral, that can close a glaring gap in our laws, that will contribute to our workforce productivity by reducing days off work, and will do all of that while saving tens of thousands of American lives? We've been promised a vote on the bill if we get to 220 sponsors in the House. We've got 200 sponsors. How about it? Congressman, we only need 20 more. Can we count on your support?

The Congressman began to laugh. "Where did your church find you? You're one heck of a lobbyist! They must pay you well. I better let you get going, so you can buy a pair of Gucci shoes like the rest of the lobbyists."

"No, Congressman - no Gucci shoes, no fancy expense account. I'm a church worker."

"Are you nuts? You should start your own lobbying firm like everyone else in this town," he laughed.

"My rewards are out of this world. So, how about the bill? This is something you will be proud of - something you will look back with satisfaction. I don't know the names of the people whose lives you will save, but I can guarantee you that in 10, 20, 30 years, there are going to be tens of thousands of Americans who are living healthy lives because you had the courage to defy the tobacco lobby and support this bill."

"Good grief, you're not letting me off the hook here. OK, OK, I'm signing on. Alright, you got me. I'm sponsoring. I'll let my chief of staff know today."

"That's terrific, Congressman. Thanks so. so much. God bless you for using the influence He's entrusted you with to protect His children here on earth." He took my hand, shook his head, and chuckled. I breathed a silent prayer. All things have, indeed, worked out for good.

In a few minutes I was out of his office. The chief of staff managed a half-smile as I walked by on my way out the door, down the hallway, off to visit another member of Congress. We're up to 201 sponsors now. Only 19 to go before we get our vote.

When I was a boy, I sat through Five Day Plans run by my physician dad. Today, I have the privilege of representing this wonderful health message entrusted to our church by God in a very different arena - but not just the health message. In any given week, we are working to stop the persecution of Adventists overseas, we are battling to protect our members from discrimination in the workplace here at home, we are intelligently intervening legislation threatens the integrity of our mission, and - by the grace of God - we are taking His final message to this world into halls of power. But we can't do this alone. We need your prayers and we need your financial support.

You are a part of a small percentage of Seventh-day Adventists who care enough to be active in the public affairs arena. As I walk the halls on Congress - often alone - the thing that keeps me going, besides God's grace, is the knowledge that there are some of my brothers and sisters out there who care enough to support this crucial work. It is my prayer this Thanksgiving season (2007), that you will take a minute or so to show your thankfulness for everything God has done for you by financially supporting our mission on Capitol Hill. Your support means the world to us.

Thank you and may God bless you,

James Standish, Esq.
Seventh-day Adventist Liaison to the United States Congress

North American Religious Liberty Association  http://ReligiousLiberty.info/