    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (2000, Book I)]
    [March 25, 2000]
    [Pages 536-537]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    The President's Radio Address
    March 25, 2000

        Good morning. As I reach the end of my terrific week in South Asia
    and prepare to return home, I want to talk to you this morning about the
    greater challenge we now face to keep our children safe from the dangers
    of tobacco. Every single day another 3,000 American children smoke their
    first cigarette. Most of them will be hooked for life, and a third of
    them will die earlier as a result.

        That's why our administration has worked so hard to highlight the
    health threat teen smoking poses and to keep tobacco products out of the
    hands of our children. We supported State and local efforts to stop
    underage smoking before it starts. And we know these efforts work.
    Massachusetts has used education programs to reduce high school student
    smoking by 15 percent. Oregon cut eighth-grader smoking rates by almost
    a third in just one year.

        Five years ago we asked the Food and Drug Administration to start a
    campaign to slash teen smoking in every State and to treat nicotine like
    the dangerous drug it is. The FDA wrote strong, effective rules to
    prevent any child under 18 from buying any tobacco product anywhere in
    the United States. The FDA was also prepared to end tobacco advertising
    that is shamelessly aimed at addicting another generation of our young
    people.

        This effort had strong support from public health leaders in both
    parties in Congress, but it collapsed under the pressure of tobacco
    companies and the Republican leadership in Congress while the tobacco
    industry challenged the rules in court.

        This week, in a setback for the health of our children, the Supreme
    Court ruled that the FDA must have explicit authorization from Congress
    before it can regulate tobacco. However, all nine Justices made it
    perfectly clear that they believe tobacco is dangerous, especially to
    young people. The majority opinion called it, quote, ``perhaps the most
    significant threat to health in the United States.''

        Now, the American people know this. They've known it for a long
    time. Now the ball is in Congress' court. They should show they also
    understand the danger to our young people and give the FDA's tobacco
    regulations the force of law.

        This is not a partisan issue. It's a health issue for our Nation and
    a life-or-death issue for children. In 1998 a bipartisan group of
    Senators offered legislation that would have let the FDA's campaign move
    forward. It had the support of 57 Senators from both sides of the aisle,
    but the leadership blocked it. And this week similar bipartisan
    legislation was introduced in the House. I urge both Houses of Congress
    to pass it promptly.

        The Justice Department also has sued the tobacco manufacturers to
    recover the cost of tobacco-related illnesses and to make sure they're
    held accountable for actions that they take. I ask Congress to support
    these efforts, as well, not undermine them, as some have threatened to
    do. I also ask Congress to work with me to take action to protect the
    financial security of tobacco farmers and their communities.

        And finally, I challenge the States to do their part, as well, by
    dedicating the money they've collected from tobacco settlements to fund
    antismoking programs for children and young people.

        Preventing our children from smoking is our common responsibility.
    It's a fight we can win and one we must win, starting now.

        Thanks for listening.

    [[Page 537]]

     Note: The address was recorded at 12:05 p.m. on March 24 at the Stock
    Exchange in Mumbia, India, for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. e.s.t. on March
    25. The transcript was made available by the Office of the Press
    Secretary on March 24 but was embargoed for release until the broadcast.