    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1998, Book I)]
    [June 5, 1998]
    [Page 901]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on House of Representatives Support for Tobacco Legislation
    June 5, 1998

        I am pleased to see that momentum for tobacco legislation is now
    building in the House of Representatives. The bipartisan comprehensive
    legislation proposed by Representatives Hansen, Meehan, and Waxman now has over 90 cosponsors committed to reducing
    youth smoking. This is a good, tough bill. It reaffirms the FDA's full
    authority over tobacco and includes strong restrictions on advertising
    and marketing of tobacco products to young people. It contains important
    protections against exposure to environmental tobacco smoke and tough
    company-specific surcharges to encourage companies to reduce youth
    smoking. I look forward to working with Representatives Hansen, Meehan,
    Waxman and all of their House colleagues to improve this bill in order
    to protect farmers and farming communities. With this change, I would be
    pleased to sign this bill. I call upon the House of Representatives to
    take it up and get down to the serious business of reducing youth
    smoking in this country.