[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 71 (Thursday, June 4, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1031-E1032]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    PROTECTING CHILDREN FROM TOBACCO

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. STEPHEN HORN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 4, 1998

  Mr. HORN. Mr. Speaker, one of the most unsettling recent public 
health trends has been rising tobacco use among teenagers. In 1991, 14 
percent of eighth graders, 21 percent of tenth graders, and 28 percent 
of 12th graders smoked. By 1996, those percentages had risen to 21 
percent of eighth graders, 30 percent of tenth graders, and 34 percent 
of twelfth graders.
  What is most infuriating is that tobacco companies have geared their 
marketing toward children. Our nation was shocked several months ago to 
read about tobacco companies' documents detailing their plans to market 
their products to children. In January, Times magazine reported that 
R.J. Reynolds official J.W. Hind, in a 1975 memo, urged the company, 
maker of Camel, Winston and Salem cigarettes, to ``increase its share 
penetration among the 14-24 age group.'' In 1976, a ten-year plan 
written for the board of directors of R.J. Reynolds and stamped ``RJR 
SECRET'' said that teenagers ages 14 to 18 were ``an increasing segment 
of the smoking population'' and suggested a brand targeted to them. 
After a subpoena from House Commerce Committee Chairman Tom Bliley (R-
VA), documents were released showing that the tobacco industry misled 
people with its health claims and covered up potentially damaging 
research. Other documents showed that when industry officials marketed 
tobacco products to ``young adults,'' they were referring to children 
as young as 13.
  Their strategy worked. In the first four years that Camel ads 
featured the cartoon character Joe Camel, smokers under 18 who 
preferred Camels rose from less than 1 percent to as much as 30 percent 
of the market. Some studies even show that six-year-old are as familiar 
with Joe Camel as they are with Mickey Mouse.
  Big Tobacco did not care that people who start smoking at a young age 
are more likely to become severely addicted than those who start at a 
later age. Big Tobacco shrugged at the fact that approximately one-
third of these children who become smokers will eventually die of 
smoking-related diseases. Big Tobacco showed no concern that their 
product acts as a ``gateway drug'' for children who enter a sequence of 
drug use that can include alcohol, marijuana, and harder drugs. Big 
Tobacco's only concern was its bottom line.
  It is imperative that Congress passes a bill to curb teen smoking. In 
an effort to move that process along, I recently joined a group of 
House members in introducing the Bipartisan No Tobacco for Kids Act, a 
tough measure which would dramatically reduce teenage smoking.
  The Bipartisan No Tobacco for Kids Act would increase the price of a 
pack of cigarettes by $1.50 over three years. Health experts say that 
one of the most effective ways to reduce youth smoking is to raise the 
price of tobacco products. Except for a small amount of money dedicated 
to federal tobacco enforcement efforts and payments to settle state 
lawsuits against the tobacco industry, all

[[Page E1032]]

funds raised are dedicated to reducing the federal debt. The bill 
validates the authority of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to 
regulate tobacco products, including stronger warning labels, 
advertising restrictions, and detailed disclosure of all ingredients. 
The bill sets aggressive targets to reduce youth tobacco use by 80 
percent over 10 years.
  The bill embodies the strong tobacco control measures supported by 
Dr. C. Everett Koop, former U.S. Surgeon General under President 
Reagan, and Dr. Davis A. Kessler, former Commissioner of the FDA under 
both President Bush and President Clinton.
  By introducing this bill with strong bipartisan support, we hope to 
keep our national effort against teen smoking out the arena of partisan 
posturing. Our children's lives are infinitely more important than 
political gamesmanship, and infinitely more precious than Big Tobacco's 
profit margins.
  The Senate is expected to vote soon on a comprehensive anti-tobacco 
bill sponsored by Sen. John McCain (R-AZ). Legislation is still being 
introduced and examined in the House. Congress should act expeditiously 
to send anti-teen smoking legislation to the President. America's 
children deserve nothing less.

                          ____________________