[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1998, Book I)] [May 6, 1998] [Pages 707-708] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]Statement on Proposed Tobacco Legislation May 6, 1998 I commend Representatives Hansen and Meehan for their hard work in putting together a strong bipartisan comprehensive tobacco bill designed to reduce youth smoking in this country. The Hansen-Meehan bill contains a substantial price increase, strong industry and company penalties for failure to reduce youth smoking, full FDA authority to regulate tobacco, strong restrictions on advertising and youth marketing of tobacco products, and strong protections against exposure to environmental tobacco smoke. I look forward to working with them [[Page 708]] to ensure that their legislation adequately protects tobacco farmers and to pass a comprehensive tobacco bill this year.