As of Tuesday, July 31, all U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) public housing is required to be smoke-free. The smoke-free HUD rule took effect in February 2017 and included an 18-month implementation period for Public Housing Authorities. The new rule is expected to protect 760,000 U.S. children and 18,000 Wisconsin residents from secondhand smoke in the home. To commemorate the public health milestone, a celebratory event was held in Milwaukee on Monday, July 30 that included remarks from American Lung Association National President and CEO Harold Wimmer , Milwaukee Fire Chief Mark Rohlfing, Wisconsin Department of Health Services Secretary Linda Seemeyer , and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett.
Check out earned media coverage from the event
New rule to protect 18,000 Wisconsin residents from secondhand smoke
New smoke-free public housing rule to go into effect
