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THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Vice President

For Immediate Release April 2, 1998

                   VICE PRESIDENT GORE KICKS BUTTS: 
            JOINS THOUSANDS OF TEENS ACROSS THE COUNTRY 
               IN EFFORTS TO FIGHT AGAINST TOBACCO

Washington, DC-- Launching Kick Butts Day, Vice President Gore today joined thousands of teens in 300 cities in all 50 states in standing up to the tobacco industry, and he renewed the Administration's commitment to fight for comprehensive legislation to reduce youth smoking.

Today is no average day, Vice President Gore said in a speech to 700 students at Hine Junior High School. Today, you are standing up proudly to say that you know better than to be tricked into smoking. Today, you are telling all of us adults that you are demanding and deserve a tobacco-free future. Today, you are declaring that you are individuals and that no one is going to lead you off the right path. President Clinton and I are standing with you in your fight and we hear your voices loud and clear.

The Vice President also gave details of a new study released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention highlighting the rise in youth smoking. The study shows that current smoking among high school students has risen by nearly a third since 1991 to an unprecedented 36.4% now. The report shows that at least one in two (51.5 percent) white male high school students and about one in three (40.8 percent) of white female students reported using a tobacco product in the last month. Also reported was a dramatic increase in the rate of African-American students who reported using tobacco products -- a 80% increase between 1991 and 1997. Rates of tobacco use were up in all grade levels (9-12), among males and females, and among white, Hispanic and African-American students.

"This report gives us dramatic proof that we must continue to fight to protect our young people from the dangerous lure of tobacco," Vice President Gore said.

The Vice President took the lead in the Administration's participation in Kick Butts Day events, which included appearances by Cabinet Secretaries and other Administration representatives at events across the country.

While participating in Kick Butts Day, the Vice President announced that a number of organizations have made commitments to do their part in the fight against teen smoking.

The Girl Scouts are making available resources to kids and adults to show why smoking is so dangerous and wrong. Girl Scouts across America who stand up against smoking will be able to proudly wear the new Girl Scouts Against Smoking patch on their uniforms.

Girls Incorporated will help run teach-ins as part of their Stamp Out Smoking campaign.

Channel One News will produce and broadcast a series of informational updates about teen smoking and health.

The National Education Association is launching the Kids Act to Control Tobacco pilot program to motivate teachers, students, and parents to do their part to stop teen smoking.

Currently, tobacco companies are spending $13 million a day to convince American's to start smoking. Today 3,000 kids will become regular smokers and 1,000 of them will die from smoking.

The Vice President also announced progress in President Clinton's call for a comprehensive plan to stop young Americans from smoking before they start and save 1 million lives over the next five years. He reiterated his support for comprehensive legislation to reduce youth smoking by raising the price of a pack of cigarettes by up to $1.50 over ten years and include five key principles: full authority of the Food and Drug Administration to regulate tobacco products; changes in how the tobacco industry does business, including an end to marketing and promotion to children; progress towards other public goals, including biomedical and cancer research, a reduction of secondhand smoke, and promotion of cessation programs; and protection for tobacco farmers and their communities.

The outpouring of support for Kick Butts day in 300 cities in all 50 states shows real momentum for strong tobacco legislation is building in both parties, the Vice President said. I know that Congress sees our efforts here and throughout the country today as a call to action to enact comprehensive legislation without further delay. ###

Arming our children with the tools they need to say no to tobacco products is the most effective way I know to prevent them from picking up this deadly habit, Vice President Gore said. As we work to pass comprehensive legislation to reduce youth smoking, President Clinton and I are committed to finding new ways to teach children that saying no to tobacco means saying yes to a longer, healthier life.

Vice President Gore led the Administration's National Kick Butts Day effort with an event at Hine Junior High School in the District of Columbia. He joined more than 700 students in celebration of kids fighting back against the marketing and advertising of tobacco products to young people. Kick Butts Day events are taking place today in more than 300 locations in all 50 states. Cabinet Secretaries and other Administration representatives are appearing at Kick Butts Day events all over the country.

Vice President Comments on New Momentum For Comprehensive Tobacco Legislation

President Clinton and Vice President Gore are committed to passing comprehensive legislation to stop young Americans from smoking before they start, saving one million lives over the next five years.

The President and Vice President believe that the bill sponsored by Senator McCain and Senator Hollings, and approved overwhelmingly in the Commerce Committee yesterday, is an excellent start on the road to passing comprehensive tobacco legislation this year.

The President and Vice President also emphasized the need to put in place tough financial penalties that make reducing teen smoking the tobacco industry's bottom line.

In addition, the momentum for strong tobacco legislation is building in both parties, and the President and Vice President are encouraging Congress not to go home for the year without passing a strong bill.

Vice President Gore Announces New Grassroots Plan to Empower Students and Teachers

The Vice President announced that the National Education Association is launching the Kids Act to Control Tobacco program to motivate and mobilize teachers, students (grades 6-8), and parents to become tobacco control advocates at the grassroots level.

The Girl Scouts are making materials available to kids and adults to show why smoking is so dangerous and wrong. Girl Scouts across America will be able to proudly wear the new Girl Scouts Against Smoking patch on their uniforms.

Girls Incorporated will help run teach-ins as part of their Stamp Out Smoking campaign.

New Ads to Deter Teen Smoking

Channel One News, which reaches 1 million school aged children, will produce and broadcast a series of informational updates about teen smoking and health.

Vice President Reaffirms Administration's Commitment To Five Key Principles Essential For Comprehensive Tobacco Legislation:

A comprehensive plan to reduce youth smoking by raising the price of a pack of cigarettes by up to $1.50 over ten years;

Full authority of the Food and Drug Administration to regulate tobacco products;

Changes in how the tobacco industry does business, including an end to marketing and promotion to children;

Progress towards other public goals, including biomedical and cancer research, a reduction of secondhand smoke, and promotion of cessation programs; and

Protection for tobacco farmers and their communities.