[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 7 (Thursday, February 5, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S440]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         THE TOBACCO SETTLEMENT

  Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I also want to take this opportunity to 
announce what I consider to be an important development on the tobacco 
legislative front.

  This morning, a senior official in the administration, David Ogden, 
counselor to Attorney General Reno, delivered testimony on the tobacco 
settlement at the House Judiciary Committee hearing.
  Mr. Ogden testified that:

       If there is agreement on a comprehensive bill that advances 
     the public health, then reasonable provisions modifying the 
     civil liability of the tobacco industry would not be a deal 
     breaker.
  Since announcement of the June 20 proposed tobacco settlement last 
year, I have maintained that a legislative measure which incorporates 
strong public health provisions in conjunction with certain defined 
civil liability reforms could do more to stop the next generation of 
our children from getting hooked on tobacco than any bill we have ever 
considered.
  The Administration's announcement today will do much to make passage 
of that landmark legislation possible. I call upon the President to 
send us his language on a priority basis. In fact, I have invited the 
Department of Justice to testify at the Judiciary Committee hearing 
next Tuesday on the tobacco settlement, and we will be greatly 
interested in the details of the President's position on liability.
  Mr. President, this is a stunning breakthrough, one which I believe 
greatly increases the probability that a broad, bipartisan consensus 
can be reached on the tobacco settlement.


                         Privilege of the Floor

  Finally, Mr. President, let me just conclude by asking unanimous 
consent that Bruce Artim and Marlon Priest be granted privileges of the 
floor during the pendency of the Satcher nomination and during 
consideration of S. 1601, the anti-cloning bill.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I yield the floor.
  Mr. FRIST addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Tennessee.
  Mr. FRIST. Would the Senator like me to yield?
  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, will the distinguished Senator from 
Tennessee be willing to yield me 3 minutes?
  Mr. FRIST. Absolutely.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Vermont is recognized.
  (The remarks of Mr. Leahy pertaining to the introduction of S. 1612 
are located in today's Record under ``Statements on Introduced Bills 
and Joint Resolutions.'')
  Mr. LEAHY. I thank my good friend from Tennessee for yielding me this 
time.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Allard). The Senator from Tennessee.
  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, Thank you.

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