125 



cifically, documents that you feel are necessary, what can you do 

 about it? 



Mr. Kessler. We could proceed — you get into the issue of juris- 

 diction to determine jurisdiction, and that would involve us going 

 the route of an administrative warrant to get those documents. We 

 have not gone that route as of this time. 



Mr. Wyden. I ask this question because, as you noted to me ear- 

 lier, you all made a request for documents May 8 of this year that 

 you felt would really flesh out and clarify questions with respect to 

 manipulation and control of nicotine that those documents if they 

 were forthcoming would resolve the matter. 



And I think that what is really important on this, and I have 

 worked with Mike Bilirakis on many occasions on lots of issues, is 

 that majority and minority members work to make sure that docu- 

 ments are received from the best source, which is the tobacco com- 

 panies. And, historically, it has not been possible to get these docu- 

 ments from the best source, which is the tobacco companies, and 

 that is why these whistleblowers have been so important. 



I want to assure my friend from Florida that I am going to work 

 with him on all of these issues. And that is the way we have done 

 it in the past and we will continue to do it in the future. 



Mr. Chairman, I yield back. 



Mr. Waxman. Thank you very much, Mr. Wyden. 



This committee is conducting an investigation. We intend to get 

 the information we need pursuant to that investigation. And by 

 "we," I mean Democrats and Republicans alike. We expect to get 

 them from anyone, whether it is a government employee or the to- 

 bacco industry, and we will work together, I expect, to get the in- 

 formation. And if need be, we will work together by way of sub- 

 poena to get the information because we are determined to follow 

 this investigation to where it will lead and to get the facts out. The 

 American people deserve to know what is going on in the area of 

 cigarettes, tobacco, and tobacco products. 



Dr. Kessler, I want to thank you again and commend you for 

 your testimony and for your diligent work in this area, and we defi- 

 nitely want to work with you. 



Thank you very much. 



Mr. Kessler. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 



Mr. Waxman. That concludes our business for today. The sub- 

 committee stands adjourned. 



[Whereupon, at 12:47 p.m., the subcommittee was adjourned, to 

 reconvene at the call of the Chair.] 



[The following letters were submitted:] 



86-463 95-5 



