USA: TOBACCO IS TOP OF THE AGENDA AS CONGRESS RECONVENES скачать в хорошем качестве

USA: TOBACCO IS TOP OF THE AGENDA AS CONGRESS RECONVENES

(3 Sep 1997) English/Nat The U-S Congress is back in session and the first order of business is tobacco. On Wednesday the Senate dealt a huge blow to the tobacco industry by voting to provide more money for a crackdown on teenage smoking. Under pressure from the Clinton administration, Senators agreed to add 29 (m) million dollars (U-S) to the nearly five (m) million it agreed to spend in July. Meanwhile, as hearings got underway on the proposed 368 (b) billion dollar (U-S) tobacco settlement, industry representatives warned lawmakers the deal could be in jeopardy if Congress fails to act quickly. When State Attorneys General made the deal with tobacco companies, they urged that nothing would be final until the agreement becomes federal law. That takes a congressional vote of approval. But first, more hearings like this one before the Senate Labour and Human Resources Committee. The architects of the agreement have spent the last two months pleading their case to lawmakers. On Wednesday, they were back in Washington to do it again. SOUNDBITE: (English) "The opportunity presented by this agreement must be seized and not lost. If properly strengthened, the agreement now before you and the president can serve as the vehicle for the most important public health policy change in the history of this nation." SUPER CAPTION: Matt Myers, Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids State attorneys general, private attorneys and the tobacco industry reached the agreement in June. The deal requires cigarette makers to pay 368 (b) billion dollars over 25 years to settle smokers lawsuits. In return, 17 class-action lawsuits would end and damage payments for future lawsuits would be limited. Steps would also be taken to restrict cigarette advertising and combat underage smoking. Proponents of the proposal say it goes farther to reduce teenage smoking than any in the history of the U-S. SOUNDBITE: (English) "I would urge you not to lose sight of the fact that the proposal will in fact significantly reduce the number of children who start to smoke. It will significantly reduce the number of current smokers, who will die of their tobacco related disease. And it will make the industry pay." SUPER CAPTION: Lonnie Bristow, M.D, former President of American Medical Association But the proposal faces strong opposition from some lawmakers and public health officials who say its not tough enough on the industry. Opponents were at hand during Wednesday's hearing to urge Congress not to buckle under tobacco industry pressure. SOUNDBITE: (English) "Our experience tells us that this is a sweet deal for the tobacco industry. It's a bad deal for the American people." SUPER CAPTION: John Garroson, American Lung Association Some Senators have already said they won't vote to approve the deal unless the amount of the settlement is at least doubled. Leading tobacco companies increased wholesale cigarette prices Tuesday for the second time this year. They raised the price of cigarettes to seven cents a pack, as they moved to start raising the billions of dollars needed for the settlement. SOUNDBITE: (English) SUPER CAPTION: Roy Burry, Industry Analyst, Oppenheimer and Co. President Clinton is expected to come out as early as next week with ideas on how to improve the plan, but architects of the agreement say the president is expected to endorse the settlement. Congressional leaders, however, are less enthusiastic saying that it is increasingly unlikely the proposal will be taken up this year. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...