[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 36, Number 37 (Monday, September 18, 2000)]
[Pages 2041-2042]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Statement on the Need for Congressional Action on Tobacco

September 11, 2000

    Today researchers are releasing two important studies that remind us 
why we must act quickly to protect young people from the dangers of 
tobacco.
    According to an NIH-funded study in the September issue of Tobacco 
Control, children become addicted to nicotine more

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readily than researchers previously suspected. The study shows that kids 
do not need to smoke every day before they become dependent on 
nicotine--even adolescents who smoke as little as once a month 
experience symptoms of addiction. And because we already know that at 
least one third of the children who get hooked will have their lives cut 
short as a result, the national consequences are devastating. Another 
study released today in the September issue of Preventive Medicine 
underscores the effectiveness of price increases as part of any 
comprehensive effort, especially among young people--up to 2.3 million 
lives could be saved over the next 40 years by a $1.00 per pack 
inflation-adjusted price increase alone.
    These studies today show why Congress must join Vice President Gore 
and me in making the health of our children a priority. Today I renew my 
call to Congress to affirm the FDA's authority to limit tobacco 
marketing and sales to youth and fund the Clinton-Gore administration's 
tobacco-related budget proposals. I also urge Congress to reject special 
interest protections for big tobacco by letting the American taxpayers, 
who have spent billions in tobacco-related Federal health costs, finally 
have their day in court. By working together, we can improve our 
Nation's health and save children's lives.

Note: This statement was made available by the Office of the Press 
Secretary on September 11 and was embargoed for release until 7 p.m.