January 29, 1998 House Commerce Committee Bible Opening Remarks Mr Chairman and Members of the Committee: Im Geoff Bible. For the have been Chairman and Chief three years past Executive Officer of Philip Morris Companies_ appreciate the opportunity tO appear before the Comnmittee today and to discuss with YOu the Proposed Resolution. am proud to represent the largest consumer-products company in the world and even prouder of our more than 150,000 employees_ 70,000 in the United States alone. who develop; manulacture and market leading brands in the tobacco food and beer industries_ Chairman Im here today to listen as well as to speak: Mr, want tO assure each member of the Committee that know how important it iS to engage in two-way discussion_ recognize that the tobacco industry is the subject of intense criticism for its past actions and for its role in the social, political and legal controversy over tobacco products_ And many of the authors of this criticism believe to be reasonable people_ Wc have arrived at today's hcaring after 40 years of constant and increasingly angry litigation and conflict. operated as if we felt under In many instances we have virtual state of siege, which too often has resulted in our failure to compromise cooperate 0r cmbrace changes sought by our critics_ That failure has led to more and even grcatcr confrontation in tur 1 without resolving any of the controversial issues hindsight wish that, years ago, Id had the foresight t0 try and find common ground with our critics_
January 29, 1998 Bible Opening Remarks House Commerce Committee Mr Chairman and Members of the Committee: Im Geoff Bible. For the past three years have been Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Philip Morris Companies_ appreciate the opportunity tO appear before the Comnmittee today and to discuss with YOu the Proposed Resolution. am proud to represent the largest consumer-products company in the world and even prouder of our more than 150,000 employees_ 70,000 in the United States alone. who develop; manulacture and market leading brands in the tobacco food and beer industries_ Mr, Chairman Im here today to listen as well as to speak: want tO assure each member of the Committee that know how important it iS to engage in two-way discussion_ recognize that the tobacco industry is the subject of intense criticism for its past actions and for its role in the social, political and legal controversy over tobacco products_ And many of the authors of this criticism believe to be reasonable people_ Wc have arrived at today's hcaring after 40 years of constant and increasingly angry litigation and conflict. In many instances we have operated as if we felt under virtual state of siege, which too often has resulted in our failure to compromise cooperate 0r cmbrace changes sought by our critics_ That failure has in tur led to more and even grcatcr confrontation without resolving any of the controversial issues hindsight wish that, years ago, Id had the foresight t0 try and find common ground with our critics_ 1