The state of Maine is showing the greatest fiscal commitment to preventing smoking among U.S. states, while Connecticut ranks last in a report issued by the the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, American Heart Association, American Lung Association and American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network.

The report, "A Broken Promise to Our Children: The 1998 State Tobacco Settlement Nine Years Later," found that while states have increased funding of smoking prevention and cessation programs by 20 percent this year -- to $717.2 million, the highest funding level in six years -- just three states meet the minimum funding standards laid out by the federal Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

Meanwhile, a long-term decline in the U.S. smoking rate has stalled, and advocates say past progress is at risk if states don't devote more resources to the problem.

Maine, Delaware and Colorado were the only states to meet the CDC funding targets, developed in the wake of the 1998 nationwide tobacco settlement. Moreover, only 17 states spend even half of the recommended amount, and states devoted less than three percent of their total tobacco-settlement funds to prevention and smoking cessation.

Meanwhile, tobacco companies are spending $13.4 billion annually to promote smoking.