12:50 AM 22 Jun 1998
Draft 06/22/98 8:30am
Jeff Shesol
PRESIDENT WILLIAM J, CLINTON
DEPARTURE STATEMENT ON TOBACCO LEGISLATION
THE WHITE HOUSE
June 22, 1998
In a few moments I will be leaving for the Vice PresidentO,s
Family Reunion Conference in Nashville, where I will speak about the
health care concerns American families face, Before I depart, I want to
make clear: one of the most important health issues our families face is
youth smoking. 3,000 children a day start smoking, and 1,000 of them will
die early because of it. That is why, three years ago, through the FDA,
we began to act to end the practice of tobacco companies marketing to our
children. And that is why, for the past year, we have been working to
forge an honorable, bipartisan compromise that protects our children from
the dangers of tobacco.
A majority of the Senate stands ready to join us in making
progress; but last week, the Republican leadership placed partisan
politics -- and tobacco companies -- above AmericaO,s families. Their
vote was not just pro-tobacco; it was anti-family. The bipartisan bill
they blocked would not only protect families from tobacco advertising that
targets children; it would protect kids from drugs, and give low- and
middle-income families a tax break by ending the marriage penalty. It
would also make an important investment in cancer research.
The congressional leadership seems willing to walk away from its
obligation to AmericaO,s children. But this issue is too important to
walk away. We will continue to move forward on every regulatory front to
protect the health of our children. By the end of the year, the FDAO,s
operation to enforce its ban on tobacco sales to minors will be active in
nearly every state in America. And while we wait for Congress to heed the
call of AmericaO,s families, I am asking the Department of Health and
Human Services to produce the first-ever annual survey on the brands of
cigarette that teenagers smoke, and which companies are most responsible
for this problem. Parents, quite simply, have a right to know. Public
health officials can also use. this new information to reduce youth
smoking.
The tobacco companiesO, automatic and angry dismissal of this new survey
shows their continued disregard for childrenO,s health. But once this
information becomes public, tobacco companies will no longer be able to
dodge their responsibilities -- and neither will Congress. From now on,
the new data will help to hold tobacco companies accountable for targeting
our children.
Again, I urge Congress to pass a comprehensive, bipartisan bill --
rather than a watered-down bill, written by the tobacco lobby, that aims
not to save the lives of children but to save the political lives of the
congressional leadership. AmericaO,s children deserve better than that,
and I will continue to do everything in my power to ensure that they
receive it.
8:50 AM 22 Jun 1998
Draft 06/22/98 8:30am
Jeff Shesol
PRESIDENT WILLIAM J. CLINTON
DEPARTURE STATEMENT ON TOBACCO LEGISLATION
THE WHITE HOUSE
June 22, 1998
In a few moments I will be leaving for the Vice PresidentD,s
Family Reunion Conference in Nashville, where I will speak about the
health care concerns American families face. Before I depart, I want to
make clear: one of the most important health issues our families face is
youth smoking. 3,000 children a day start 'smoking, and 1,000 of them will
die early because of it. That is why, three years ago, through the FDA,
we began to act to end the practice of tobacco companies marketing to our
children. And that is why, for the past year, we have been working to
forge an honorable, bipartisan compromise that protects our children from
the dangers of tobacco.
A majority of the Senate stands ready to join us in making
progress; but last week, the Republican leadership placed partisan
politics --'and tobacco companies -- above AmericalJ,s families. Their
vote was not just pro-tobacco; it was anti-family. The bipartisan bill
they blocked would not only protect families from tobacco advertising that
targets children; it would protect kids from drugs, and give low- and
middle-income families a tax break by ending the marriage penalty. It
would also make an important investment. in cancer research.
The congressional leadership seems willing to walk away from its
obligation to AmericaD,s children. But this issue is too important to
walk away. We will continue to move forward on every regulatory front to
protect the health of our children. By the end of the year, the FDAD,s
operation to enforce its ban on tobacco sales to minors will be active in
nearly every state in America. And while we wait for Congress to heed the
call of AmericaD,s families, I am asking the Department of Health and
Human Services to produce the first-ever annual survey on the brands of
cigarette that teenagers smoke, and which companies are most 'responsible
for this problem. Parents, quite simply, have a right to know. Public
health officials can also use this new information to reduce youth
smoking.
The tobacco companiesD, automatic and angry dismissal of this new survey
shows their continued disregard for childrenO,s health. But once this
information becomes public, tobacco companies will no longer be able to
dodge their responsibilities -- and neither will Congress. From now on,
the new data will help to hold tobacco companies accountable for targeting
our children.
Again, I urge Congress to pass a comprehensive, bipartisan bill --
rather than a watered-down bill, written by the tobacco lobby, that aims
not to save the lives of children but to save the political lives of the
congressional leadership. AmericaO,s children deserve better than that,
and I will continue to do everything in my power to ensure that they
receive it.
