[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 33, Number 19 (Monday, May 12, 1997)]
[Page 644]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Statement on the Department of Justice Appeal of the District Court 
Tobacco Regulation Decision

May 2, 1997

    Today the Department of Justice filed a notice in the Greensboro 
U.S. District Court appealing the part of Judge Osteen's order that 
invalidated the Food and Drug Administration's tobacco advertising 
restrictions. The Department is asking for an expedited appeal, because 
every day of delay matters to our children's health. Each day, 3,000 
children and young people become regular smokers, and 1,000 of them will 
have their lives cut short as a result of their smoking. And this 
problem of youth tobacco use is getting worse. The percentage of 8th and 
10th graders who smoke has risen for 4 consecutive years. The FDA's 
commonsense access and advertising restrictions would reverse this 
trend. We will continue to work to protect our children from tobacco, 
and we will not stop until we succeed.

Note: This item was not received in time for publication in the 
appropriate issue.