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REMARKS BY: DONNA E. SHALALA, SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES PLACE: National Tobacco Control Conference, Chicago, IL DATE: May 29, 1996
Many of you are long-time veterans -- some of you are rookies. But, all of you are heroes. Whether you're cracking down on youth smoking, or educating all our citizens about this deadly addiction, you are saving precious lives, precious resources, and precious futures.
And, I am honored to join you today.
Fifty years ago, an ad appeared in Life Magazine proclaiming, "More doctors smoke Camels than any other cigarette."
That was then. This is now: Television and radio airwaves no longer carry commercial jingles touting the "pleasures" of smoking and smokeless tobacco. And parents and children are now armed with powerful information in the battle to save their health and maybe even their lives.
Yes, we have "come a long way, baby." But our journey is not over.
Not when more than 90 percent of 6-year-olds can identify Joe Camel as a symbol of smoking.
Not when 77 percent of high school students who tried were able to buy cigarettes in stores -- without showing proof of age.
Not when smoking among high school students has climbed about 25 percent in four years.
Not when the smoking rates for African American males in high school have almost doubled in the past four years.
Not when 45 percent of white male high school students use smokeless tobacco or cigarettes.
And not when the average smoker starts at age 14 1/2 and becomes a daily smoker before age 18.
Smoking is a pediatric disease -- that must be stopped.
Just listen to what our young people have to say:
This from a 16 year-old girl: "I'd like to be a model. Smoking burns off a lot of calories."
A teenager says: "My nerves are bad. Smoking calms me down."
One girl started smoking at 14 because, "All these really cool girls were doing it. I thought they looked so cool."
Every time a child lights up a cigarette, the future of our country hangs in the balance.
Every time a child lights up a cigarette, who knows what brilliant minds and bright dreams will fade into the bleak backdrop of disease and premature death? Future world-class athletes, future computer giants, future educators, and, maybe even future Presidents.
Every young person we can save today is another smoke-free adult tomorrow. And, that's why this conference is so important.
The tobacco culture has essentially functioned as a "third parent" for American children: Enticing them with attractive images; playing upon their desire to be glamorous; luring them with T-Shirts and trinkets; and, giving them easy ways to obtain cigarettes from vending machines and even free giveaways.
There is not a parent in America who wants their children to endure the suffocating death grip of emphysema or lung cancer.
That's why we're working with you to implement the Synar regulations -- and help states flash a red light on the sale of cigarettes to minors.
That's why we are helping support local community-based groups through the National Cancer Institute and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
And that's why we're continuing to support research that sheds light on why children start smoking -- and what we can do to help stop them.
But now, we have an opportunity to stand with parents and do even more.
We have an opportunity to strike a big blow -- a winning blow -- against underage smoking in this country.
Never before in history. Let me repeat: Never before in history has a President had the courage and conviction to take on the fight against tobacco -- in the name of public health and the name of our children. I am proud of that -- and I know you are too.
Overall, our goal is to reduce smoking among children and adolescents by 50 percent within seven years. And, to do that, this President has offered some of the boldest public health proposals this country has ever seen:
To reduce the access and appeal of tobacco to children, we propose to limit all the easy ways that children get tobacco; keep tobacco billboards at least 1,000 feet from our children's schools; take the Marlboro Man and Joe Camel out of publications read by millions of children; and prohibit tobacco companies from using the allure of their name brands in sponsoring events.
Some might say: "Can't parents take care of their children?" The answer is, "Of course they can."
That's precisely the point of our proposal: To make sure that parents -- not the tobacco culture -- are in control when it comes to educating children about an addiction that could take years off their lives.
Our proposal is about putting power back into the hands of parents -- where it belongs. And, it's all part of our comprehensive strategy to help parents steer their precious children away from all the dangerous minefields like drugs, tobacco, pregnancy, AIDS and violence -- and towards healthy, productive futures.
Are these important steps? Absolutely.
With the Food and Drug Administration proposed rule, we would reduce kids' access to tobacco and the substantial appeal created by $6 billion of advertising and promotion.
The President has put forth a comprehensive and effective proposal to reduce children's use of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco.
The President's mark is the right one.
I know some of you may be wondering about the possibility of finding a legislative solution to this problem.
Last August, in the East Room, the President said he would rather put these restrictions into law immediately through legislation than wait for a long regulatory proceeding.
And just recently, the President reiterated this point, by saying: "If the tobacco companies will voluntarily accept legislation containing limits that will be as effective as what we propose, I will say, again, we believe it's better to have the companies come forward and ask for legislation."
Let me be clear: When we are shown a bill that is as effective and meaningful as the measures the President has proposed, we will enthusiastically work with Congress.
But, Philip Morris and United States Tobacco's proposal falls short of that mark. For example, under their proposal, the Marlboro Man would still ride the billboard prairies and rope our children in.
Our children would still be able to walk into stores and grab a pack of cigarettes from a self-service display. And, Joe Camel would still pop up in magazines read by lots of children -- offering concert tickets in exchange for a lifetime of addiction.
That is not good enough.
If the companies seriously engage Congress, and Congress gets to work on legislation that meets the President's mark, he is ready. Meanwhile, we will continue to work on the President's initiative.
We will not -- let me repeat -- we will not retreat from our commitment to the health of our children. And, I know you won't either.
But government cannot do it alone -- and we shouldn't ever try.
It's going to take leaders who speak to children every day -- from the family rooms to the classrooms, and from the televisions to the soccer fields.
We need to reach children where they live, where they learn, and where they hang out -- with words and images they understand.
That's why we're teaming up with leaders throughout the media and entertainment industries -- from daytime talk show hosts to TV producers to the editors of popular magazines.
Some people say that we're wasting our time trying to work with the entertainment industry. They say that the industry will never change and that the proper role for government is merely to shake a finger at them. But, I strongly disagree.
I don't have the luxury or the desire to give up on people who speak to millions of children each day.
You're looking at a huge movie fan -- and I know that this industry is savvy and talented enough to create characters who are cool enough not to smoke.
That's the challenge I brought to industry leaders when I visited California last month -- to use their enormous power the right way. And, that's the message we need to send to role models all over America: "Our children are watching your example." The question is, what lessons will they learn?
From the PTA, parents are learning how they can act today to help their children avoid tobacco and addiction tomorrow.
From Major League Baseball and Oral Health America, they're learning about the tragic effects of smokeless tobacco.
From the American Medical Association, the American Cancer Society, the American Lung Association, the American Heart Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and others, communities are learning how to protect children from tobacco -- school by school, block by block, home by home.
And, from the U.S National Women's Soccer team, they're learning that like oil and water, tobacco and fitness just don't mix.
Saving our children from a lifetime addiction is going to take all of us. From parents to teachers; from coaches to clergy; from business to government at the Federal, State and local levels; to young people themselves.
Because, the battle against underage smoking will only be won at the community level by leaders like you -- leaders who forge strong partnerships. And leaders who marry vision with action to stop smoking before it even starts.
I want you to know that our Administration remains 100 percent committed to the effective work you do at the State, local and community levels. And we must continue to support your community-based initiatives now and into the future.
With your leadership, we have an opportunity to return power to parents and communities.
We have an opportunity to change the course of deadly diseases.
We have an opportunity to help children avoid the shadow of nicotine addiction -- protecting our best and smartest investment for the future.
And, if we win this battle, we have an opportunity to fundamentally change the course of history -- and do something that historians will no doubt record as the most important public health triumph of our time.
It can be done. It must be done. And, working together, it will be done.
Thank you.