urgent: preserving foreign countries right to sue

[Robert Weissman <rob@essential.org>]

May 20, 1998

As drafted, the McCain bill (S. 1415, the tobacco bill being considered in
the U.S. Senate this week) would prevent foreign governments from suing
U.S. tobacco companies in U.S. courts. This would, for example, prevent
the suit that Guatemala filed last week against the U.S. manufacturers.

An amendment being introduced this afternoon (Weds., May 20) by Senators
Gregg and Leahy would remove the liability protections in the McCain bill,
including the prohibition on foreign government suits. (It would also
remove the cap on annual industry liability.) This amendment will be voted
on this afternoon.

To preserve foreign governments' right to sue in U.S. courts, U.S.
citizens on this list should contact their senators' offices immediately,
and encourage them to vote FOR the Gregg-Leahy amendment. If you wait to
call, it will be too late.

CALL: YOUR SENATORS
NUMBER: 202-224-3121 (Capitol Switchboard, ask for your senators)
MESSAGE: VOTE FOR THE GREGG-LEAHY AMENDMENT

Robert Weissman
Essential Information			|   Internet:	rob@essential.org