Organization: Altria Group Inc.

Year: 2015

Whereas: Whereas: tobacco-use, poverty and lower-educational levels are intrinsically linked. The World Health Organization states: 'Tobacco and poverty have become linked in a vicious circle, through which tobacco exacerbates poverty and poverty is also associated with higher prevalence of tobacco use. Several studies from different parts of the world have shown that smoking and other forms of tobacco use are much higher among the poor.' www.who.int/tobacco/research/economics/rationale/poverty/en/> ; WHEREAS, according to a January 2104 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2012 an estimated 42.1 million of U.S. adults were current cigarette smokers. Overall smoking prevalence declined from 20.9% in 2005 to 18.1% in 2012. By race/ethnicity, prevalence was highest among respondents reporting multiple races (26.1%) and lowest among Asians (10.7%). By education, prevalence was highest among persons with a graduate education development certificate (41.9%) and lowest among those with a graduate (5.9%) or undergraduate (9.1%) degree. Prevalence was significantly higher among persons living below the poverty level (27.9%) than those living at or above this level (17.0%). Respondents who reported having a disability/limitation with activities of daily living (disability/limitation) had a significantly higher prevalence (22.7%) than those with no disability/limitation (16.5%); WHEREAS, the CDC stated: 'Variations across racial/ethnic groups might be attributable, in part, to targeted tobacco product marketing or differences in the social acceptability of smoking, whereas disparities by education might be related to differences in understanding of the health hazards of smoking and increased vulnerability to tobacco marketing. Differences by disability/limitation status might be attributable, in part, to smoking-attributable disability in smokers and increased stress associated with disabilities. The high smoking prevalence observed among some population groups underscores the need for enhanced implementation and reach of proven strategies to prevent and reduce tobacco use among these groups.' http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6302a2.htm; WHEREAS, Altria's 2013 Corporate Responsibility Report includes information on cessation resources and research the Company supports; however there is no disclosure on efforts to reach populations where smoking prevalence is higher; RESOLVED, the Board of Directors of Altria initiate efforts within six months of the annual meeting to prepare appropriate materials (similar to the success that has been noted with parallel materials for youth) informing tobacco users who live below the poverty line or have little formal education of the health consequences of smoking our products along with market-appropriate cessation materials. A report on this material's preparation and method of distribution shall be made available to requesting shareholders, at an appropriate cost, within one year of the 2015 annual meeting.

Resolved: Resolved: the Board of Directors of Altria initiate efforts within six months of the annual meeting to prepare appropriate materials (similar to the success that has been noted with parallel materials for youth) informing tobacco users who live below the poverty line or have little formal education of the health consequences of smoking our products along with market-appropriate cessation materials. A report on this material's preparation and method of distribution shall be made available to requesting shareholders, at an appropriate cost, within one year of the 2015 annual meeting.