[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 156 (Saturday, November 8, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2239]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      HELP COMBAT UNDERAGE SMOKING

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JOHN LEWIS

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, November 7, 1997

  Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing legislation 
that would place a $500 per year tax on vending machines that sell 
cigarettes and other tobacco products. It is my hope that this tax will 
discourage the use of these vending machines and recoup some of the 
costs that these vending machines inflict upon society by making it 
easier for our children to illegally purchase and use tobacco products.
  Smoking and second-hand tobacco smoke are known class A carcinogens. 
In fact, scientists recently identified the chemical process through 
which cigarette smoke causes cancer. Smoking also causes heart disease 
and birth defects among the children of women smokers. Cigarettes kill 
more than 434,000 Americans each year. Tobacco addiction costs the 
American public more than $65 billion each year in health care costs 
and lost productivity.
  The saddest fact to me is that 90 percent of smokers began smoking 
when they were children--most started before they were 16 years old. 
Everyday--every single day--3,000 young people began smoking.
  All States have laws restricting tobacco sales to children below a 
certain age. While these laws can be effective when a sales clerk is 
selling the tobacco, they do little to prevent minors from purchasing 
tobacco from vending machines. My legislation recognizes the insidious 
nature of tobacco vending machines by placing a $500 per year tax on 
vending machines that sell tobacco products.
  Hopefully, this tax will help discourage tobacco companies from 
selling their goods through vending machines and discourage our 
children from smoking; $500 is a small price to pay to protect our 
children from emphysema, cancer, and the other ravages of tobacco.

                          ____________________