Brian Bilbray: “I am sorry that we have to be discussing this item again this year. It is an item that I had brought before this body…”

“I am sorry that we have to be discussing this item again this year. It is an item that I had brought before this body two previous years. Last year, I agreed, after a request by the legislative body of the City of Washington, D.C., and the mayor, that they be allowed to address this issue. I withdrew it last year, as a courtesy to the local city council and the mayor, on the possibility that they could address a gap in the law that governs our Federal District. Sadly to say, Mr. Chairman, the action after 12 months has not been forthcoming as indicated at that time. All my bill does, Mr. Chairman, is point out the fact that when we talk about tobacco possession use and abuse by minors, we need to do everything that we can to avoid the problem before it starts. Now I think that we all agree that the most critical thing we can do in the United States to avoid the hideous deaths related to tobacco consumption is to keep our young people from getting involved at an early age.”