intl issues in McCain + sign on request (fwd)

[Robert Weissman <rob@essential.org>]

To: Interested Parties
From: Robert Weissman, Essential Action
Re: International Provisions in McCain bill
Date: June 8, 1998

The McCain bill -- the bill being debated in the Senate -- emerged from
conference committee with five strong international provisions: a ban on
the use of U.S. government funds to promote tobacco overseas; strong
anti-smuggling provisions; a code of conduct that mandated U.S. companies
had to adhere to the same marketing and labeling standards overseas as
domestically; creation of a U.S.  nongovernmental organization to fund and
otherwise support overseas anti-tobacco groups; and a license fee to raise
funds for international tobacco control. 

Most of this was eviscerated in a "Managers' Amendment" -- a series of
revisions made through negotiations headed by Sens. McCain and Kerry,
along with the White House. The only meaningful international provision
remaining is a commitment of $350 million annually to the Secretary of HHS
to advance international tobacco control. Senator Wyden of Oregon fought
hard to maintain at least this commitment in the bill.

There is little prospect of reinserting the desirable international
provisions in the McCain bill. There is, however, a threat that the
funding for international tobacco control will be cut, perhaps beyond the
across-the-board cut that all tobacco control programs will receive if
some of the tobacco fees are used to fund tax cuts.

***To help protect the remaining international commitment, Essential
Action is circulating the following short sign-on letter to senators.
Groups that would like to sign on should e-mail me (rob@essential.org) or
call (202-387-8030) as soon as possible. Because of the tight time frame
in which we are operating, I need sign-on's by Wednesday, June 10 at
noon.***

The strategy is to preserve what is in the Senate bill and fight to
advance the broader agenda in the House. A version of the five key
international provisions is included in Hansen-Meehan-Waxman bill. (There
may also be an opportunity to try to reinsert the marketing provision in
the McCain bill via an amendment by Sen. Wellstone -- about which I'll
send out more information soon, as it becomes clearer what is happening
with the Wellstone amendment.)

Thanks.

***

Here is the letter:

Dear Senator:

Tobacco-related disease is not an American-only problem. Currently,
tobacco-related disease kills 3 million people annually around the world.
The World Health Organization predicts the death toll will rise to 10
million a year by the 2020s, with 70 percent of these deaths taking place
in developing countries. Many of these deaths will be attributable to the
activities of U.S. tobacco companies -- Philip Morris and R.J. Reynolds
already sell nearly two thirds of their cigarettes in foreign markets, and
the proportion is growing.

For these reasons, it is essential that Congress include strong
international tobacco control measures in any tobacco legislation adopted
this year.

Many desirable international tobacco control measures have been removed
from S. 1415, The National Tobacco Policy and Youth Smoking Reduction Act
(the McCain bill). The most important of the remaining international
provisions in the bill is a $350 million annual authorization to the
Secretary of Health and Human Services to support international tobacco
control programs, both governmental and nongovernmental. 

This $350 million annual authorization is an absolute floor for what
should be done now to address the growing global tobacco epidemic. Any
dimunition of the funding level would be completely unacceptable.

We look forward to working with you to assure current funding levels are
maintained.

Sincerely,

Send organizational sign-on's to: Robert Weissman at rob@essential.org or
202-234-5176 (fax) or call 202-387-8030.