Protecting Children From Tobacco

PROTECTING CHILDREN FROM TOBACCO

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HON. STEPHEN HORN

OF CALIFORNIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, June 4, 1998

Mr. HORN. Mr. Speaker, one of the most unsettling recent public health trends has been rising tobacco use among teenagers. In 1991, 14 percent of eighth graders, 21 percent of tenth graders, and 28 percent of 12th graders smoked. By 1996, those percentages had risen to 21 percent of eighth graders, 30 percent of tenth graders, and 34 percent of twelfth graders. What is most infuriating is that tobacco companies have geared their marketing toward children. Our nation was shocked several months ago to read about tobacco companies' documents detailing their plans to market their products to children. In January, Times magazine reported that R.J. Reynolds official J.W. Hind, in a 1975 memo, urged the company, maker of Camel, Winston and Salem cigarettes, to "increase its share penetration among the 14-24 age group." In 1976, a ten-year plan written for the board of directors of R.J. Reynolds and stamped "RJR SECRET" said that teenagers ages 14 to 18 were "an increasing segment of the smoking population" and suggested a brand targeted to them. After a subpoena from House Commerce Committee Chairman Tom Bliley (R- VA), documents were released showing that the tobacco industry misled people with its health claims and covered up potentially damaging research. Other documents showed that when industry officials marketed tobacco products to "young adults," they were referring to children as young as 13. Their strategy worked. In the first four years that Camel ads featured the cartoon character Joe Camel, smokers under 18 who preferred Camels rose from less than 1 percent to as much as 30 percent of the market. Some studies even show that six-year-old are as familiar with Joe Camel as they are with Mickey Mouse. Big Tobacco did not care that people who start smoking at a young age are more likely to become severely addicted than those who start at a later age. Big Tobacco shrugged at the fact that approximately one- third of these children who become smokers will eventually die of smoking-related diseases. Big Tobacco showed no concern that their product acts as a "gateway drug" for children who enter a sequence of drug use that can include alcohol, marijuana, and harder drugs. Big Tobacco's only concern was its bottom line. It is imperative that Congress passes a bill to curb teen smoking. In an effort to move that process along, I recently joined a group of House members in introducing the Bipartisan No Tobacco for Kids Act, a tough measure which would dramatically reduce teenage smoking. The Bipartisan No Tobacco for Kids Act would increase the price of a pack of cigarettes by $1.50 over three years. Health experts say that one of the most effective ways to reduce youth smoking is to raise the price of tobacco products. Except for a small amount of money dedicated to federal tobacco enforcement efforts and payments to settle state lawsuits against the tobacco industry, all funds raised are dedicated to reducing the federal debt. The bill validates the authority of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to regulate tobacco products, including stronger warning labels, advertising restrictions, and detailed disclosure of all ingredients. The bill sets aggressive targets to reduce youth tobacco use by 80 percent over 10 years. The bill embodies the strong tobacco control measures supported by Dr. C. Everett Koop, former U.S. Surgeon General under President Reagan, and Dr. Davis A. Kessler, former Commissioner of the FDA under both President Bush and President Clinton. By introducing this bill with strong bipartisan support, we hope to keep our national effort against teen smoking out the arena of partisan posturing. Our children's lives are infinitely more important than political gamesmanship, and infinitely more precious than Big Tobacco's profit margins. The Senate is expected to vote soon on a comprehensive anti-tobacco bill sponsored by Sen. John McCain (R-AZ). Legislation is still being introduced and examined in the House. Congress should act expeditiously to send anti-teen smoking legislation to the President. America's children deserve nothing less.