[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (2000, Book II)]
[October 5, 2000]
[Pages 2045-2046]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Statement Urging Congressional Action On Tobacco
October 5, 2000

    Today the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, the American Cancer 
Society, the American Heart Association, and the American Lung 
Association issued a report showing that while some States have devoted 
a substantial portion of their tobacco settlement to reduce youth 
smoking, most have committed only modest or minimal funds. Tobacco 
companies are spending 10 times more to market their product than all 50 
States combined are spending on tobacco prevention and cessation. I 
encourage all States to commit a significant part of their settlement to 
address the harm that tobacco companies

[[Page 2046]]

have caused through decades of deceptive marketing, especially to youth.
    With a clear ruling last week by a U.S. District Court allowing the 
case to proceed to trial, the Attorney General 
today reaffirmed her intention to hold tobacco companies accountable for 
their actions. Tobacco companies have saddled generations of Americans 
with unnecessary health costs and premature death by fraudulently 
marketing their products to youth and deceiving the American public 
about the dangers of tobacco use. More than 400,000 Americans die each 
year from smoking-related diseases, and 80 percent of them started 
smoking as children. Today I renew my call to Congress to reject special 
protections for big tobacco and provide the funds necessary to allow 
this case to be decided in the courtroom, not the back room. Together 
with our partners in the States, we can and must make the health of our 
children a priority. The American people deserve their day in court.