[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 42 (Thursday, April 10, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2965-S2966]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             KICK BUTTS DAY

  Mr. LAUTENBERG. Mr. President, today is the day known as Kick Butts 
Day. It is a day when kids all over the country will express their 
opposition to cigarette addiction and the dangers that it poses to 
health. They are resisting tobacco company efforts to target them as 
consumers and ensnare them in a lifetime of addiction.
  That is why I want to spend a few minutes today to discuss the 
subject of the possible legislative settlement of claims against the 
tobacco industry. It has been suggested that perhaps the example set by 
Liggett & Myers, the company that agreed to reveal its innermost 
documents to tell the public at large everything that went on in the 
secret meetings of their company and other companies with whom they 
were working, has apparently been an inducement for other companies 
that think perhaps now that the pressure is on the tobacco industry 
maybe they can affect a settlement. Well, this is no time for that kind 
of thing.
  On Tuesday of this week, I introduced the Tobacco Disclosure and 
Warning Act, which would require the tobacco companies to disclose the 
ingredients and the carcinogens in their products and place larger and 
clearer warning labels on their packs. These new labels would send a 
more effective message to kids about the dangers of smoking.
  Yesterday, I spoke in the Chamber about the Joe Camel advertising 
campaign by R.J. Reynolds. This advertising campaign uses cartoons to 
market cigarettes to kids. Senators Durbin, Wellstone, Harkin, Kennedy, 
Murray, and Wyden have joined me in

[[Page S2966]]

sending a letter to the chairman of the FTC asking him to bring an 
unfair advertising case against R.J. Reynolds for the Joe Camel ads.

  In a stunning development several weeks ago, this cloak of deception 
that shrouded the activities of the tobacco industry was removed when 
the Liggett group settled 22 State lawsuits because they admitted that 
smoking causes cancer and other diseases, that nicotine is addictive, 
and that the tobacco industry targets underage smokers. It also agreed 
to a 25-year payment schedule to the States, to release internal 
documents providing evidence of the above claims, and to accept FDA 
regulation along with stark new warning labels on its cigarettes. This 
settlement that was worked out between Liggett and the State attorneys 
general is truly historic. It will open up the floodgates of 
information about tobacco. The truth is that smoking is addictive and 
it kills.
  The documents that will become public as a result of this settlement 
will help expose the conspiracy of deception and intimidation tobacco 
giants have engaged in for years. They have used this deception to 
thwart claims against them in court, to derail reasonable attempts at 
regulation, and to curb public education programs to protect the public 
health.
  It is rumored that the tobacco industry, or at least some firms, will 
now seek protection from Congress, asking for a ``global settlement'' 
of claims against them. I hope that every Senator will maintain a 
healthy skepticism about any proposed legislative settlement of legal 
claims against the tobacco companies.
  The bipartisan group of attorneys general pursuing these lawsuits 
have shown enormous courage and tenacity in the face of tobacco 
industry stonewalling. We should not undercut them. Nor should we 
intervene to help the companies in pending litigation brought by 
individual Americans who suffered harm as a result of the industry's 
deadly and deceptive practices. We should not hinder the ability of the 
States and the taxpayers that they represent, or individuals, to 
receive just and fair compensation for the harm or expense that they 
suffered.
  I hope Members of this body will be very analytical as they hear this 
appeal and resist efforts to bail out the tobacco industry in Congress.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Chair recognizes the Senator from Arizona.
  Mr. McCAIN. I thank the Chair.
  (The remarks of Mr. McCain and Mrs. Hutchison pertaining to the 
introduction of S. 547 are located in today's Record under ``Statements 
on Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions.'')
  Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak up to 15 
minutes as part of morning business.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. WYDEN. Thank you very much, Mr. President.

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