Unit Two
Fight Again Youth Smoking Three years ago， appalled by how many children were becoming addicted to cigarettes every year， the Vice President and I committed this administration to stopping the sale and marketing of cigarettes to children. Today， thanks to these efforts and the persistence of state attorneys general， the public health community， and leaders in Congress， we have the best opportunity ever to pass comprehensive anti-smoking legislation that well save millions of our children from a premature， painful， and very preventable death. This week， in a historic and resounding 19 to 1 vote， a key Senate committee gave its stamp of approval to comprehensive legislation sponsored by Senator John McCain， a Republican， and Senator Fritz Hollings， a Democrat， that would cut youth smoking by half over the next decade. This bill represents a dramatic step forward. It would raise the price of cigarettes， give the FDA full authority to regulate tobacco products， ban advertising aimed at children， and protect tobacco farmers.
We still have work to do in this legislation. Above all， we need to put in place tough penalties that will cost the tobacco industry if it continues to sell cigarettes to young people. Just this week the Centers for Disease Control released a disturbing report that more than a third of teenagers in the United States now smoke， even though it's illegal.
It is time to hold tobacco companies accountable. Reducidng youth smoking must be veerybody's bottom line. Let's remember —— this is not about politics or money， or seeking revenge against the tobacco industry for past practices. We're not trying to put the tobacco companies out of business； we want to put them out of the business of selling cigarattes to kids. This week's progress in the Senate shows we have real momentum in both parties to do just that.
There're still maly issues to be worked out and many long nights ahead. But we have within our grasp one of the most important public health victories our nation has ever achieved.
Finally， lit me just pause a moment to observe the 30th anniversary of the death of one of America's greatest heroes， Dr. Martin Luther King. His dream， deeply rooted in the American Dream， is a dream for all Americans. Let us here at home always strive to heed Dr. King's words and live up to his legacy.
-------- Bill Clinton
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