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ATTORNEY GENERAL REMARKS URGING FUNDING FOR THE TOBACCO LAWSUIT

"A year ago, after an exhaustive review of the facts and law by a team of career Justice Department lawyers, the United States filed a suit against the major manufacturers of

cigarettes. This lawsuit calls those companies to account for alleged wrongful conduct that has led to the death and illness of millions of Americans. Last Thursday, the district court held that the government can go forward with its case to demonstrate that, for more than 45 years, the tobacco companies have deceived the American public about the hazards of smoking, including the addictiveness of nicotine. And they have intentionally targeted young people with the result that more generations will suffer from tobacco-related illnesses.

"Although the court dismissed claims for the recovery of health care costs under Medicare and certain other programs, it vindicated one of the central theories of that lawsuit. The counts of the complaint that the courts sustained allege a pattern of deception in violation of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, or RICO, and give us the opportunity to seek equitable relief to change the way the tobacco companies do business, protect America's children, and require the tobacco companies to right the wrongs of the past.

"In addition, the United States may seek to recover the tobacco companies' ill-gotten gains, which, as the court recognized, are likely to run into the billions of dollars.

"We are at a critical juncture today in this litigation. It is time to move forward with preparation for trial. In order to do so in a manner that does justice to the interests of the American people, I call on Congress to fund the Justice Department at the levels necessary to continue our efforts. I ask that the Congress embrace the proposal put forth by Senator Hollings, providing direct funding for the litigation in the final Fiscal Year 2001 Commerce, Justice and State Appropriations Bill. I also would ask that the conference agreement remove provisions which, while innocuous on their face, could be used to allow politics to interfere with the conduct of litigation and a final determination of the liability of the tobacco companies.

"This decision should not be about politics. It is about the law, and on this the court has spoken. The American people should have their day in court."