[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 104 (Tuesday, July 16, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H7640-H7641]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      INTRODUCING THE YOUTH PROTECTION FROM TOBACCO ADDICTION ACT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Utah [Mr. Hansen] is recognized for 5 minutes.

[[Page H7641]]

  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing the Youth Protection 
from Tobacco Addiction Act on behalf of this Nation's children, who 
have been fooled into believing that smoking is an appealing, 
appropriate, or even a healthy habit.
  I want to make a simple fact very clear. Tobacco kills the people who 
use it, just like cocaine or heroin kills its users; however, more 
people die from tobacco caused diseases than from illegal drugs, 
alcohol, homicides, and suicides combined.
  Nicotine is an ingredient in every cigarette, pouch or pipe tobacco, 
or can of chewing tobacco. Nicotine is an ingredient unlike any other 
ingredient you find in the kitchen pantry. It is dangerous and it is a 
deadly poison. In its liquid form, an injection of only one drop would 
be deadly. If anyone here likes to work outside in his vegetable 
garden, as I do, they know that there is not an insecticide on the 
market that is a more effective killer than nicotine.
  The nicotine contained in the various tobacco products acts as an 
addictive poison, not only killing the product user but also creating a 
strong craving. After using tobacco for a length of time it is very 
difficult to stop. If you do not believe that tobacco is addictive, go 
outside any of the House Office Buildings on the coldest day of the 
year to see the people who brave the freezing temperatures to fulfill 
their poisonous craving for nicotine.
  The bill I am introducing today is intended to protect the 3,000 
children who began smoking today and the 3,000 who will start tomorrow 
and the 3,000 who will begin smoking every day after that. The time has 
come for this Congress to do something to prevent our children from 
being fooled by the crafty and wily masters of advertising who target 
our children as future users of this deadly product.

                              {time}  1915

  Because hundreds of thousands of people die from smoking-related 
causes each year, the tobacco industry must find replacements for these 
customers. The tobacco executives have an economic need to fool 
children to begin smoking early, just to stay even. Tobacco advertisers 
do not want you to know that over 80 percent of smokers become hooked 
when they are children. I think we all know a few of them.
  It is not a mistake or unfortunate consequence that our children are 
becoming addicted to this poison. No, it is a deliberate attempt by 
deceptive tobacco advertisers in an effort to target future tobacco 
users. Only a fool with his head in the sand would suggest that Joe 
Camel or the Marlboro Man advertisements are not targeted to children 
and teenagers who want to be accepted and liked.
  The advertisements falsely claim that smoking will increase self-
esteem, popularity and performance. I am hard-pressed to think of a 
more outright falsehood so blatantly broadcast and accepted as is 
tobacco advertising.
  Let me tell you about the self-esteem, popularity and performance of 
someone who was addicted to nicotine all his life, my neighbor, 
somebody by the name of Chuck Edwards. If you want to check with Chuck 
Edwards, he happens to be the foremost expert in the west in larynx 
cancer. He brings in things, and he takes somebody's face off. He lifts 
the face off. He then disconnects their jaw. He then cleans out their 
larynx and guess what happens to that person, he is a recluse the rest 
of his life. And Chuck always says to me, ``And following that, I go in 
after the operation and the hole that is in the trachea, they put a 
cigarette in it because they are so addicted they cannot leave it 
alone.''
  I probably would not object to tobacco advertising so much if they 
showed the truth. I would like to see them show one of Chuck Edwards' 
operations. The fact is, tobacco kills the people who use it. Tobacco 
advertisers are trying to fool children into using it. And this 
Congress is allowing children to be fooled by the tobacco advertisers.
  If you do not believe me, just look at how the cigarettes are 
packaged in the United States. Here is a package from the United 
States. It says on there, Surgeon General's warning, tobacco contains 
carbon monoxide. Here is the same pack from Canada. What do they say in 
Canada? A little more honest than we are. In Canada, it says, 
Cigarettes are addictive.
  I doubt most adults, let alone children, understand the dangers of 
carbon monoxide. I doubt most adults can describe the color, taste or 
odor of carbon monoxide. However, that is the warning we have chosen to 
place on the side of cigarette packages in this very, very small print. 
Now you look at the one from Canada. In clear black and white language 
it says, Cigarettes are addictive. In my opinion, that is what any 
responsible legislature ought to warn people about. Cigarettes are 
addictive and they ought to put on the sides, ``These things will kill 
you, because that is what they do every day and thousands of people 
die.''
  In fact, if I had it my way, I would require all cigarettes plainly 
to say, Cigarettes will kill you.
  Mr. Speaker, I would urge Members to get on this bill, the Youth 
Protection Act. I personally think it is the thing we should do for our 
children.

                          ____________________