356 



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The pharmaceutical industry acceded to the assessment of these fees because 

 improving the drug approval process provides the pharmaceutical industry with 

 tangible benefits ~ namely, expediting new drug approvals. H.R. 2147, by contrast, 

 would require the tobacco industry to pay the full cost of FDA regulation under the 

 bill -- regulation that HHS itself has declared to be unnecessary. The precedent that 



H.R. 2147 would set for other industries is obvious and ominous. 



» # » 



Before closing, Mr. Chairman, I would like to offer some personal remarks. 

 Although I am here on behalf of The Tobacco Institute, I proudly served in this body 

 for ten years. My perspective is broader than the particular interests on whose behalf 

 I speak today. 



A rabid antitobacco movement bent on Prohibition has made the tobacco 

 industry the subject of an extraordinary campaign of vilification. Antitobacco 

 sentiment has been stirred to such a point that almost any accusation against the 

 industry is believed, regardless of whether it actually is true, while any refutation 

 offered by the industry or anyone else for that matter -- however demonstrably based 

 on certifiable fact - is disbelieved or ignored. The more sensational the accusation, the 

 more bizarre the allegation, the more attention it receives. 



When the allegations that are at the heart of this hearing are viewed 

 dispassionately, I am confident that they will be seen to be unfounded. 



I would be glad to answer any questions. 



