UnitTwo
FightAgainYouthSmoking
Threeyearsago, appalledbyhowmanychildrenwerebecomingaddictedtocigaretteseveryyear, theVicePresidentandIcommittedthisadministrationtostoppingthesaleandmarketingofcigarettestochildren. Today, thankstotheseeffortsandthepersistenceofstateattorneysgeneral, thepublichealthcommunity, andleadersinCongress, wehavethebestopportunityevertopasscomprehensiveanti-smokinglegislationthatwellsavemillionsofourchildrenfromapremature, painful, andverypreventabledeath.
Thisweek, inahistoricandresounding 19 to 1 vote, akeySenatecommitteegaveitsstampofapprovaltocomprehensivelegislationsponsoredbySenatorJohnMcCain, aRepublican, andSenatorFritzHollings, aDemocrat, thatwouldcutyouthsmokingbyhalfoverthenextdecade. Thisbillrepresentsadramaticstepforward. Itwouldraisethepriceofcigarettes, givetheFDAfullauthoritytoregulatetobaccoproducts, banadvertisingaimedatchildren, andprotecttobaccofarmers.
Westillhaveworktodointhislegislation. Aboveall, weneedtoputinplacetoughpenaltiesthatwillcostthetobaccoindustryifitcontinuestosellcigarettestoyoungpeople. JustthisweektheCentersforDiseaseControlreleasedadisturbingreportthatmorethanathirdofteenagersintheUnitedStatesnowsmoke, eventhoughit'sillegal.
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