    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1998, Book I)]
    [April 22, 1998]
    [Page 600]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on the House of Representatives Release of Tobacco Industry
    Documents
    April 22, 1998

        The House Commerce Committee today released thousands of tobacco
    industry documents. I commend Chairman Bliley,
    Congressman Waxman, and the members of the
    Committee for helping to bring these documents to light.
        The release of these documents underscores the urgency of enacting
    comprehensive, bipartisan tobacco legislation this year, which can stop
    3 million children from smoking over the next 5 years and save 1 million
    lives. I am committed to working with legislative leaders on both sides
    of the aisle, in both the House and the Senate, to enact a comprehensive
    bill to stop young Americans from smoking before they start--a bill that
    raises the price of cigarettes, puts into place tough restrictions on
    advertising and access, imposes penalties on the industry if it
    continues to sell cigarettes to children, and ensures that the FDA has
    authority to regulate tobacco products. Our Nation's children are
    counting on us to put politics aside and work together in a bipartisan
    manner to get this job done.