[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 125 (Thursday, September 18, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H7532-H7533]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM AND TOBACCO

  (Mr. DOGGETT asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)

[[Page H7533]]

  Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Speaker, yesterday, like every day in America, 3,000 
more young Americans began the path on their addiction to nicotine.
  And three other significant things happened concerning the plague of 
nicotine addiction, the most significant cause of preventable death in 
this country. The first was a positive one. President Clinton called 
for a comprehensive strategy to address youth smoking as we evaluate 
this tobacco settlement.
  The second was also positive in a way. This House, which, along with 
the Senate, had snuck into the balanced budget agreement a $50 billion 
tax break for the tobacco industry under the claim of small business 
protection, quickly repealed that when it became known to the public at 
large.
  And the third thing that happened was that this House adjourned at 
the end of the day and a private jet from a U.S. tobacco company came 
over and took a plane-load of our colleagues to a Republican fund-
raiser in New York. We need to address the campaign finance issue at 
the same time we address tobacco usage.

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