Now that virtually all other states have joined the settlement, a few like Connecticut standing alone in'our courts cannot credlbiy continue to present the same threat, and the industry's resources can be concentrated overwhelmingly against us. This settlement is not perfect. It is not a panacea. But it accomplishes a great deal with a certainty and immediacy that no courtroom can afford. In short, there is no cause for self-congratulation or complacency in closing this chapter.
Much work remains, and the next chapter requires renewed energy and resources.
Recoanizing how far we have come should show how much farther and longer we have to go. Together in our neighborhoods and schools, out state and national legislatures, we can and must continue the battle against the tobacco industry because we can and must win the war to save our children.