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Fooo anfl Drug AoiiiHiaujiiu<> 

 nockviiie MO 20S7 



June 20, 1994 



.The Honorable Henry A. Waxjnan 

 Chairman, Subcommittee on Health and 



the Environment 

 Committee on Energy and Commerce 

 House of Representatives 

 Washington, D.C. 20515 



Dear Mr. Chairman: 



This letter is in response to your request that I appear 

 before the Health and Environment Subcommittee to testify 

 regarding the Food and Drug Administration's ongoing 

 investigation of nicotine-containing cigarettes. I am 

 pleased to have the opportunity to appear again before the 

 Subcommittee on this subject. 



Since my testimony will relate to an ongoing investigation, 

 I feel it necessary to apprise the Subcommittee of the 

 limits that I oust impose on the scope of my testimony. As 

 I am sure you can understand, I am not in a position to 

 disclose the names of confidential sources or any informa- 

 tion that, in my judgment, could lead to the identification 

 of those sources. I believe that this limitation is 

 essential to protect the integrity of the agency's processes 

 and its ability to effectively investigate important public 

 health issues. Moreover, this is consistent with past 

 agency practice whenever we have been called upon to discuss 

 matters under investigation in a public forum. 



I appreciate your sensitivity to the importance of preserv- 

 ing the agency's responsibilities regarding investigations. 

 We stand prepared to continue to work with you in your 

 deliberations on this issue. 



Sincerely 



rugs 



