[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.