[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 155 (Friday, November 7, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2191]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TOBACCO INDUSTRY REGULATION

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. WILLIAM O. LIPINSKI

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 5, 1997

  Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to oppose an agreement that 
was recently made between the tobacco industry and the FDA. The 
settlement addresses several issues, including the FDA's authority to 
regulate tobacco, advertising and promotion, youth access to tobacco 
products, environmental tobacco smoke, and immunity for the tobacco 
industry from future law suits.
  Mr. Speaker, I am hesitant to enact legislation that will restrict 
the FDA's authority to regulate tobacco. More importantly, this 
enactment concerns me because it would give the tobacco industry a 
bailout from future liability. I cannot support legislation that does 
not include stringent safeguards aimed at protecting our Nation's 
youngsters from becoming addicted to nicotine; protecting our children 
should be our main concern.
  I would like to enter into the Record a resolution adopted by the 
City Council of the City of Chicago, forwarded to me by the Honorable 
Edward M. Burke from the State of Illinois:

       Whereas, The United States Congress will vote on a $385.5 
     billion proposed nationwide tobacco accord; and
       Whereas, The Chicago City Council has been informed of this 
     event by Alderman Edward M. Burke; and
       Whereas, Cigarette makers and 40 state attorneys general 
     agreed to a proposed accord aimed at helping to protect young 
     people from the dangers of smoking in June of 1997; and
       Whereas, Under the proposed settlement, cigarette companies 
     would pay annual fines of $80 million for every percentage 
     point that smoking by young people failed to drop below 30 
     percent over a five-year period, 50 percent over seven years 
     and 60 percent over 10 years; and
       Whereas, Annual payments would be capped at $2 billion 
     under the proposed agreement; and
       Whereas, Along with paying penalties for smoking by young 
     people, tobacco companies under the proposal agreed to settle 
     lawsuits by states and smokers and to impose broad 
     restrictions on tobacco advertising; and
       Whereas, In return, the plan which requires approval by the 
     United States Congress, would provide the industry protection 
     against certain types of lawsuits and punitive damages; and
       Whereas, The members of the Illinois Congressional 
     Delegation must vote on the proposed nationwide tobacco 
     accord; and
       Whereas, Critics of the proposed accord, including members 
     of Congress and public health experts, have objected to the 
     proposed settlements as a bailout of an outlaw industry that 
     does not go far enough toward reducing addiction to nicotine; 
     now, therefore
       Be it Resolved, That we, the Major and members of the 
     Chicago City Council assembled this tenth day of September, 
     1997, do hereby call upon the Illinois Congressional 
     Delegation to vote against the proposed nationwide tobacco 
     accord; and
       Be it Further Resolved, That a suitable copy of this 
     resolution be presented to the members of the Illinois 
     Congressional Delegation.

     

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