PMI U.S. Hosts Clinic on Legal Support for Veterans

On Friday, May 2, 2025, PMI U.S. hosted experts from the University of Florida Levin College of Law, the Rocky Mountain Veterans Advocacy Project in Colorado and the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law. Panelists shared their practice experience, case studies and policy recommendations to help address common challenges that military families face.

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Experts attend the “Advancing Pro Bono Legal Support for Veterans” law clinic event in Washington, D.C., on May 2, 2025. From left: Michael Moreno, University of Florida Levin College of Law; Judy Clausen, University of Florida Veterans and Servicemembers Legal Clinic; Alice Hansen, Rocky Mountain Veterans Advocacy Project; Dr. Kathryn Barrs, Sturm Center, University of Denver; J.B. Simko, PMI U.S.; Kristine A. Huskey, University of Arizona Veterans’ Advocacy Law Clinic; Brad Cummings, Rocky Mountain Veterans Advocacy Project; Tana Todd, Rocky Mountain Veterans Advocacy Project; and Alison Weir, Connecticut Veterans Legal Clinic.

With support from PMI U.S. funding, lawyers and law students from the clinics offer individualized guidance to veterans on navigating complex issues, such as completing Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefit applications and accessing resources like mental health services.

Case studies covered:

• How insights from an individual case in Florida led to new national policies, practices and legislative proposals.
• Expanding outreach to Navajo Nation veterans in Colorado and improving access to benefits through legal and mental health evaluations.
• Increasing access and legal assistance for Arizona veterans in rural and Tribal areas.

PMI U.S. contributions in 2024 and 2025 will provide nearly $1 million in funding to veterans’ advocacy law clinics to help veterans and their families access the benefits they’ve earned.

About PMI U.S.

Philip Morris International Inc. is headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, and its U.S. affiliates (collectively, “PMI U.S.”) employ more than 2,500 people. PMI U.S. is on a mission to improve public health by providing the 45 million nicotine consumers in the U.S. — 30 million of which still smoke traditional cigarettes — with better alternatives. Since 2008, PMI has invested more than $14 billion globally to develop and commercialize FDA-authorized smoke-free products for legal-age nicotine consumers. PMI U.S. operates smoke-free product manufacturing facilities, including Swedish Match North America’s Owensboro, Kentucky plant that makes ZYN nicotine pouches and Triaga’s facility in Wilson, North Carolina, that produces HEETS as part of the IQOS heated tobacco system. Swedish Match North America has a regional office in Richmond, Virginia.

U.S. marketing practices support 21+ access only

PMI U.S. is committed to responsible marketing practices focused on limiting access to adults 21 years of age and older. PMI U.S. does not use social media influencers in the U.S. or people under the age of 35 — or who appear to be under the age of 35 — in marketing materials. PMI U.S. also employs independent age-verification systems, such as Double Verify, to direct digital advertising to those over 21, and owned digital platforms are age-gated at the point of access and restricted to current nicotine consumers who are 21+. Swedish Match North America is a Manufacturer Advisory Council member of the We Card Program, a national nonprofit serving retailers of age-restricted products. PMI is also a founding board member and investor in TruAge®, a free retail technology that provides stores with a more accurate method of age verification, including the ability to better detect fake IDs, to ensure access is limited to those 21+.

U.S. mission to improve public health through smoke-free products

Because adult nicotine consumer preferences differ, PMI U.S. is working to offer a range of smoke-free options for adults 21+. Since 2008, PMI has invested over $14 billion to develop, scientifically substantiate and commercialize innovative smoke-free products. In 2022, PMI acquired Swedish Match — a leader in oral nicotine delivery — creating a global smoke-free champion led by the ZYN and IQOS brands.

IQOS is authorized by the FDA as a modified risk tobacco product, meaning the FDA has found it appropriate for the promotion of public health. Although IQOS heatsticks are not risk-free and contain nicotine, which is addictive, studies show that because the device heats tobacco instead of burning it, it significantly reduces the production of and exposure to harmful chemicals compared to conventional cigarettes for adults who smoke and who switch to IQOS completely.

In 2025, the FDA authorized all 20 Swedish Match ZYN nicotine pouch products currently sold in the U.S., making ZYN the only FDA-authorized nicotine pouch on the market to help adults who use cigarettes or traditional tobacco products completely switch. The FDA has authorized Swedish Match’s General snus as a modified risk tobacco product. Currently, PMI U.S. holds more than 80 percent of modified risk tobacco product authorizations and more than 45 percent of premarket tobacco product authorizations.

Commitment to corporate social responsibility

PMI U.S. has contributed approximately $25 million to charitable causes since 2022, amplifying the good work of organizations already active within communities through both financial contributions and volunteering. PMI U.S.’s philanthropy efforts include supporting military veterans and military spouses, disaster prevention and relief and grassroots economic development. PMI U.S. helped form United to Safeguard America from Illegal Trade, a coalition of nearly 100 national and state brand enforcement experts, law enforcement agencies, academics and leading business organizations working to combat illegal trade. USA-IT has trained more than 36,000 law enforcement officials.

For more information, please visit www.pmi.com/us/ and www.pmiscience.com. “PMI” refers to the Philip Morris International family of companies. “PMI U.S.”, “we”, “our”, and “us” refer to PMI’s U.S. businesses.

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