Tom Harkin: “Again, Mr. President, both letters make it clear that the tobacco settlement does not obviate the need for the FDA…”

“Again, Mr. President, both letters make it clear that the tobacco settlement does not obviate the need for the FDA funding that we provide in our amendment and that providing the funding would not interfere with the settlement. In closing, Mr. President, I want to thank Senator Byrd for his excellent addition to our amendment. Senator Byrd has been the leader in the Senate in focusing, also, on the horrendous problem of youth drinking and the need to clamp down on young people buying alcohol. Senator Byrd's addition requires that States be encouraged to coordinate their enforcement of the tobacco ID check with enforcement of laws that prohibit underage drinking. Mr. President, this is a significant improvement to our original proposal. I commend my distinguished senior colleague from West Virginia for providing this language. As I said to Senator Byrd, if we tighten down on these ID checks, if we provide the funding so that when Melissa--Melissa is 16 and she looks older than Amy who is age 25--goes in to buy tobacco we will also attack underage drinking. A lot of times they may be buying beer or wine along with tobacco. As long as an ID check is made, it will stop underage drinking as well as smoking. So I agree with Senator Byrd that the States should coordinate their enforcement of tobacco ID checks with enforcement of laws that prohibit underage drinking. Mr. President, again, I have an amendment here that incorporates that language from Senator Byrd.”