[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 34 (Tuesday, March 24, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E459]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 UPON INTRODUCTION OF H. CON. RES. 249 RESOLUTION TO EXPRESS SENSE OF 
     CONGRESS THAT THE VA SHOULD RECEIVE PROCEEDS FROM ANY TOBACCO 
                               SETTLEMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. LANE EVANS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 24, 1998

  Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, the proposed settlement between major tobacco 
companies and various states will receive much attention by the 
Congress in the coming session. With so much money and emotion wrapped 
up in one issue, it is anybody's guess how Congress will finally try to 
resolve this highly contentious issue.
  But no matter how Congress ultimately decides to address this issue, 
there is one group of Americans that cannot be left out of any tobacco 
settlement--our nation's veterans.
  I share the Administration's view that we should make it a major 
public health priority to reduce cigarette smoking and nicotine 
addiction, in part through establishing significant constraints on the 
ability of tobacco companies to continue to engage in deceptive and 
deadly marketing practices. A responsible, comprehensive tobacco 
settlement may be the best way to achieve this goal.
  But while the Administration has assumed our federal government will 
collect over $65 billion in proceeds from any tobacco settlement, its 
Fiscal Year 1999 (FY 99) budget fails to earmark any settlement money 
for the Department of Veterans Affairs, the federal agency that spends 
over $4 billion each year providing health care to veterans suffering 
from tobacco-related illnesses.
  If anybody deserves to be protected under the terms of a tobacco 
settlement, it is our nation's veterans, many of whom became addicted 
to nicotine while in service to our nation.
  As the resolution I am introducing today spells out in greater 
detail, tobacco companies and our federal government facilitated--if 
not encouraged--cigarette smoking in the military. From the time of the 
Civil War until 1956, the Army was required by law to provide a cheap 
and nearly endless supply of tobacco to its enlisted men. The Air Force 
still has a similar law on the books. Cigarettes have been distributed 
free of charge to members of the Armed Forces as part of their so-
called ``C-rations.'' As many as 75 percent of our World War II 
veterans began smoking as young adults during the course of their 
military service.
  Labeling requirements warning of the dangers of nicotine and tobacco 
usage did not become mandatory for products distributed through the 
military system until 1970, five years after such a requirement was 
made applicable to the civilian market. Tobacco products are still sold 
by military exchanges at substantially discounted rates, thus actively 
encouraging tobacco usage by military personnel and their dependents. 
``Smoke 'em if you got 'em'' has been a watchword of the military 
culture for years.
  Given this historical backdrop, it should hardly be surprising that 
many veterans developed an addiction to nicotine in large part because 
our government and the tobacco companies made cigarettes so accessible 
and easy to smoke during their military service.
  But while our public servants have correctly criticized the tobacco 
companies for preying on millions of Americans with their highly 
manipulative marketing practices, the Administration's proposed budget 
leaves the Department of Veterans Affairs and our veterans to fend for 
themselves in dealing with tobacco-related illnesses that haunt a 
substantial portion of our nation's veteran population. And while many 
would agree that millions of Americans were victimized by misleading 
advertising and deceptive marketing practices that led them down the 
path to addiction, the Administration's message appears to be that our 
veterans should have known better.
  The resolution I have introduced today attempts to send a message 
that the Congress is not prepared to leave our veterans behind. The 
Department of Veterans Affairs should receive substantial amounts from 
any tobacco settlement so that it will have sufficient funds to meet 
the needs of our veterans suffering from tobacco-related illnesses.
  This resolution has already received support from most major veterans 
service organizations, including the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), 
the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), the Vietnam Veterans of 
America (VVA), the Fleet Reserve Association, the Blinded Veterans 
Association, and the Military Order of the Purple Heart.
  I am also pleased that Representative Christopher Smith (R-NJ), the 
Vice-Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, has joined 
with me to introduce this bi-partisan, common sense resolution. 
Congressman Smith's leadership on this issue is indicative of his long-
standing commitment to our nation's veterans, and I welcome his 
support.
  I urge all Members to join me in co-sponsoring this extremely 
important resolution.

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