[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 77 (Tuesday, May 19, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S5567]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           FAMILY SMOKING PREVENTION AND TOBACCO CONTROL ACT

  Mr. BROWN. Mr. President, 15 years ago I sat on the Energy and 
Commerce Committee in the House of Representatives and listened to 
seven tobacco executives. It was a famous photograph of these seven 
tobacco executives who raised their right hands and swore to tell the 
whole truth and nothing but the truth. They were there to defend their 
practices and swear under oath that cigarettes and nicotine were not 
addictive. The president of Philip Morris said, ``I believe nicotine is 
not addictive.'' The chairman and CEO of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company 
said, ``Cigarettes and nicotine clearly do not meet the classic 
definition of addiction.'' The president of U.S. Tobacco, the chairman 
and CEO of Liggett Group, and the chairman and CEO of Brown & 
Williamson Tobacco Corporation all said, ``I believe that nicotine is 
not addictive.'' I listened as the president and CEO of American 
Tobacco said, ``I, too, believe nicotine is not addictive.''
  During that hearing, we heard repeatedly that 400,000 Americans die 
of tobacco-related illnesses; 400,000 Americans every year, more than a 
thousand people a day, die of tobacco-related illnesses. It occurred to 
me--as these CEOs raised their right hands, all seven of them in a row, 
and said tobacco is not addictive, cigarettes aren't addictive--it 
occurred to me why they were saying that. Simply, if 400,000 of their 
customers are dying every year, more than 1,000 a day, they need at 
least 400,000 new customers every year, at least 1,000 a day. So if 
they are going to get those 400,000 customers, my guess is they are not 
going to convince the Senator from Illinois--the junior Senator or the 
senior Senator from Illinois--they are not going to convince me, they 
are not going to convince most of us who are in our forties, fifties, 
and sixties to start smoking. They are more likely to aim at the pages 
who are sitting here who are 15, 16, 17 years old. They are more likely 
to go after children.
  In fact, the Cancer Action Network, the American Cancer Society, did 
an ad today: 98,000 kids have smoked their first cigarette in the last 
month. That is why the cigarette companies, the tobacco companies have 
introduced products such as Camel Orbs, Sticks, and Strips that are 
aimed at children. That is why they did the Camel No. 9, a very 
attractive package, trying to get women to smoke; Joe Camel; 
billboards--until we outlawed them--right by high school campuses and 
high school buildings.
  The fact is, 400,000 Americans die every year from tobacco-related 
illnesses. Tobacco companies need 400,000 new customers just to break 
even, just to stay in business. They aim at our children. They go after 
children who are 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 years old. That is why, under 
Chairman Kennedy's leadership with Chairman Dodd, today the Health, 
Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee will begin its deliberations 
on finally changing the way we regulate tobacco, giving the authority 
to the Food and Drug Administration. It is the right way to go. By this 
time on Thursday, I hope, certainly by Friday, we should have 
legislation voted out of that committee, ready to take action. It is 
about time this body stood up to the tobacco interests and did what is 
right for our children.
  I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Ms. LANDRIEU. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mrs. Gillibrand). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.
  Ms. LANDRIEU. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent to speak for 
up to 5 minutes as in morning business.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Ms. LANDRIEU. Thank you, Madam President.

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