Remarks by the President on Tobacco Settlement Review

Today, President Clinton challenged Congress to pass sweeping tobacco legislation to significantly reduce teen tobacco use. The President announced that he will invite Congressional leaders to the White House in the coming weeks to launch a bipartisan effort to enact federal tobacco legislation.

This tobacco legislation would build on the extraordinary efforts -- led by Vice President Gore, Secretary of Health and Human Services Donna Shalala, and Domestic Policy Advisor Bruce Reed -- that the Administration has made to work with the public health community, the attorneys general, members of Congress, tobacco farmers, and others to develop a comprehensive tobacco policy.

The President stated that five key elements must be at the heart of any national tobacco legislation:

1) a comprehensive plan to reduce teen smoking, including tough penalties if targets are not met;

2) full authority for FDA to regulate tobacco products;

3) changes in the way the tobacco industry does business;

4) progress toward other public health goals;

5) protection for tobacco farmers and their communities.

Remarks by the President on Tobacco Settlement Review

A Record of Achievment

Press Briefing by Secretary of Health and
Human Services Donna Shalala

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