Tom Harkin: “just under 3 years ago, on March 31, 1998, Senators Harkin, John Chafee and Graham teamed up to introduce the first…”

“just under 3 years ago, on March 31, 1998, Senators Harkin, John Chafee and Graham teamed up to introduce the first comprehensive bipartisan legislation to reduce teen smoking. Today, I am pleased to announce that Senators Harkin, Lincoln Chafee and Graham are teaming up again with the same goal. We are re-introducing the first bipartisan Senate bill to restore the Food and Drug Administration's authority to protect our kids from tobacco. We hope the introduction of this bill is the beginning of a bipartisan push to get this type of common sense legislation passed. The need is clear. As Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor recognized, tobacco use among children and adolescents is probably the single most significant threat to public health in the United States. Study after study has shown how the tobacco industry continues to successfully target our children. In a survey done by the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, seventy-three percent of teens reported seeing tobacco advertising in the previous two weeks, compared to only 33 percent of adults. And 77 percent of teens say it is easy for kids to buy cigarettes. This is why every day another 3000 kids in this country become regular smokers. And that is why cigarette smoking among high school seniors is at a 19-year high. There is no question. Nicotine is an addictive product and cigarettes kill. Even the tobacco companies are starting to admit it.”