[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 27 (Thursday, March 4, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E311]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 COMMEMORATION OF THE 5TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE AMERICAN LEGACY FOUNDATION

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. TODD RUSSELL PLATTS

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 4, 2004

  Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate 
an organization that has dedicated its efforts to the education and 
prevention of tobacco use among our Nation's young people. Founded on 
March 4, 1999, as a result of the historic Tobacco Master Settlement 
Agreement (MSA), the American Legacy Foundation celebrates its 5th 
anniversary this week.
  Over the past 5 years, the American Legacy Foundation has made great 
strides in improving health for all Americans by creating an 
environment which allows young people to reject tobacco products and 
assists others to quit.
  The American Legacy Council is best known for their award-winning 
truth youth counter market campaign. Truth advertisements provide a 
blunt and frank approach to the negatives of smoking and tobacco usage. 
These advertisements are credited as one of the reasons for the recent 
declines in youth tobacco usage. Additionally, the foundation's 
programs extend well beyond targeting youth. Through their cessation 
programs, the Circle of Friends creates circles of support around women 
who wish to quit, the Great Start Program helps to provide counseling 
for pregnant women regarding the risks of tobacco usage during 
pregnancy, and the Priority Populations Program focuses on those groups 
disproportionately harmed by tobacco use.
  In addition to celebrating the American Legacy's Foundation wonderful 
achievements, I wish to take this opportunity to share with my 
colleagues the very real threat to the financial existence of programs 
such as truth, and the existence of the Foundation itself. This year 
the American Legacy Foundation has received its last payment from the 
MSA. Because of the dramatic reduction in resources, all of the 
successes that the Foundation has achieved are in jeopardy. Already, 
the Foundation is cutting programs. It is imperative that members of 
Congress join together to not only congratulate the American Legacy 
Foundation on their great success over the past 5 years, but also join 
together to ensure that the American Legacy Foundation will be able to 
continue on their path for years to come.

                          ____________________