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OCR Page 1 of 47Questions and Answers on the Tobacco Settlement
September 17, 1997
Q:
Is the Administration endorsing the settlement?
A:
The Administration called for a legislative solution to the public health issue of tobacco
and children in August 1995. The President said then that national legislation would be
the best way to protect our children, and that is still the Administration's position. The
settlement announced last June creates an historic opportunity to enact this legislation.
The President's plan builds on the settlement by demanding:
A comprehensive plan to reduce teen smoking, including tough penalties if targets are not
met, a public education and counter advertising campaign, and expanded efforts to restrict
the access of youth to tobacco products;
Full authority for the FDA to regulate tobacco products;
Changes in the way industry does business, including broad document disclosure;
Progress toward other public health goals, including reduction of second-hand smoke,
expansion of smoking cessation programs, strengthening of international efforts, and
funding for health research and other health objectives; and
Protection for tobacco farmers and their communities.
Q:
Many believe that by not accepting the settlement, you will drive the tobacco companies
away and kill any chances of legislation.
A:
We want national legislation focused on curbing youth smoking, but we want it to be
complete and we want it to be right. We are proposing the principles that we believe are
necessary for tobacco legislation. What the industry thinks of those principles is not what
should guide us.
Q:
Why did it take you so long to comment on the settlement -- especially when you have
provided so few specifics?
A:
This is an extremely important and complex subject, and we wanted to make sure we got
everything right. We have never intended to write legislation or to provide details of a
legislative proposal. We will need to work closely with Congress on this issue. We think
that providing principles is the best way to start what we hope will be a bipartisan process
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