[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 42 (Tuesday, March 27, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2972-S2973]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            MORNING BUSINESS

  Mr. THOMPSON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that there now 
be a period for the transaction of routine morning business with 
Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, I applaud today's release of the Surgeon 
General's report, ``Women and Smoking.'' It provides us with important 
information and recommendations to support our efforts to reduce 
smoking among women and prevent girls from starting the deadly habit. 
The results are disturbing and make it clear that we have a 
responsibility to combat the epidemic of smoking and tobacco-related 
diseases among women in the United States and around the world.
  What the report makes clear is that we have been witness to an 
unprecedented tobacco industry marketing campaign targeted towards 
young women and girls. The consequences of this marketing campaign are 
staggering. From 1991 to 1999, smoking among high school girls 
increased from 27 to 34.9 percent. Since 1968, when Philip Morris 
introduced Virginia Slims, the rate of lung cancer deaths in women has 
skyrocketed. In fact, lung cancer has surpassed breast cancer as the 
leading cause of cancer death in the United States, accounting for 25 
percent of all cancer deaths among women.
  I am pleased that Secretary Thompson was able to join Dr. Satcher 
this morning to release the Surgeon General's report. I hope his 
presence signals the Bush administration's willingness to aggressively 
pursue policies and legislation to combat tobacco use among our 
children.

[[Page S2973]]

  In particular, the report demonstrates the need for meaningful 
regulation of tobacco products by the Food and Drug Administration. 
Today, tobacco companies are exempt from the most basic health and 
safety oversight of their products. Consumers know more about what is 
in their breakfast cereal that what is in their cigarettes. Tobacco 
companies are not required to test additives for safety or tell 
consumers what is in their products. Nothing prevents them from making 
misleading or inaccurate health claims about their products.
  This lack of regulation impacts women as tobacco companies 
aggressively target young girls through marketing campaigns linking 
smoking to weight loss and women's rights and progress. For example, 
one of the most famous ads directed at women was Lucky Strike's ``Reach 
for a Lucky Instead of a Sweet.'' A recent Virginia Slims' ad campaign 
told women that smoking could help them ``Find Your Voice.'' As the 
father of two daughters, I find it unacceptable that young girls are 
relentlessly barraged with slick marketing campaigns encouraging them 
to take up a deadly--and illegal--habit.
  Also, recognizing that many women are concerned about the long term 
health risks of smoking, tobacco companies have been promoting ``low 
tar'' or ``light'' cigarettes to women as a ``safer'' option. Big 
Tobacco is well aware that the health claims in their ads are either 
misleading or entirely false. But it works. Currently 60 percent of 
women smokers use light and ultra light cigarettes.
  These are just some of the reasons I, along with Senators Lincoln 
Chafee and Bob Graham, introduced the first bipartisan tobacco 
legislation in this Congress, the KIDS Deserve Freedom from Tobacco 
Act. Our bill would grant the FDA full authority to regulate the 
manufacture, distribution, marketing, and sale of tobacco products to 
protect our children from the dangers of tobacco use.
  The results of the Surgeon General's report demonstrate the need for 
FDA authority over tobacco products. Today, I call upon Secretary 
Thompson to make a commitment to the young girls and women of this 
country: that the Bush administration will make passing legislation 
giving the FDA strong, meaningful regulatory authority over tobacco 
products a top priority.

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