William Helms: “Senator Ford's introduction of the Tobacco Products Control Act of 1997 is a good first step toward addressing the…”

“Senator Ford's introduction of the Tobacco Products Control Act of 1997 is a good first step toward addressing the problem of youth access to tobacco products. I shall work with Senator Ford and other colleagues in solving it. Mr. President, the tobacco industry has made it absolutely clear that the choice to smoke must be for adults only to make. There is not one tobacco farmer in North Carolina who approves of children and teenagers smoking. However, the transparent vendetta waged by overzealous bureaucrats in the Food and Drug Administration against the tobacco family has been outrageous. It is a misguided attempt to expand the jurisdiction of FDA at a time when the agency is clearly failing in its stipulated mission, and is an obvious attempt to usurp congressional authority. Congress has considered--and rejected--numerous FDA attempts to regulate tobacco. Mr. President, I thank my able colleague, Senator Ford, who has worked so faithfully on behalf of America's tobacco farmers. Once again, I am honored to stand with him.”