Bill Clinton: “Dear Mr. Leader: I applaud the Senate for taking up comprehensive, bipartisan legislation to dramatically reduce teen…”

“Dear Mr. Leader: I applaud the Senate for taking up comprehensive, bipartisan legislation to dramatically reduce teen smoking. Every day, 3000 teenagers start smoking regularly, and 1000 will die prematurely of smoking-related diseases as a result. I urge the Senate to move swiftly to pass comprehensive legislation that could save those children's lives. Last September, and in my budget plan, I set forth five principles for comprehensive tobacco legislation: Raising the price of cigarettes by $1.10 a pack over 5 years with additional surcharges on companies that continue to sell to kids; Affirming the FDA's full authority to regulate tobacco products; Getting companies out of the business of marketing and selling tobacco to minors; Promoting public health research and public health goals; and Protecting our tobacco farmers and their communities. I have made protecting tobacco farmers and farming communities a top priority for this legislation, and I believe Senator Ford's LEAF Act fully meets this standard. I am deeply troubled by the Senate Leadership's recent attempt to undermine protection for tobacco farmers and their communities. I urge the Senate to work through this impasse and ensure that small, family farmers are protected. If that issue can be resolved to my satisfaction, the bill before the Senate, as amended by Senator McCain's Manager's Amendment, is a good, strong bill that will make a real dent in teen smoking. Congress should pass it without delay.…”