Orrin Hatch: “In 1996 Secretary Shalala estimated that the 1996 FDA rule would reduce smoking by 50 percent over 7 years? Guess what?…”

“In 1996 Secretary Shalala estimated that the 1996 FDA rule would reduce smoking by 50 percent over 7 years? Guess what? There was no price increase in that regulation. Secretary Shalala used the word ``historic''--this is the most important public health initiative in a generation. It ranks with everything from polio to penicillin. I mean, this is huge in terms of its impact. Our goal is very straightforward; to reduce the amount of teenage smoking in the United States by half over the next 7 years.”