John M. Clymer, President
Partnership for Prevention

“It is unfortunate that tobacco companies continue to reap profits by making and selling products proven to cause 440,000 Americans to die prematurely each year.

“The law may limit damages that cigarette makers have to pay but the suffering of victims knows no such limits. The evidence is indisputable that every single day, more than one thousand American families suffer the loss of loved ones following cancers, heart attacks, strokes, and coronary artery disease caused by cigarette smoke.

“The Supreme Court has previously given clear cues how the country can proceed to prevent future deaths due to tobacco smoke with one simple, cost effective Congressional act. Congress can and should give the Food and Drug Administration authority to regulate tobacco products. To do less is to prolong unnecessary suffering and death. Additionally, federal, state and local policy makers should pass clean air laws to protect people from tobacco smoke; raise the price of cigarettes, which is proven to prevent young people from smoking; and use funds from tobacco taxes and lawsuits to support educational efforts to discourage tobacco use.”