Langevin Votes to Crack Down on Youth Vaping
Statement
Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI) today voted in favor of H.R. 2339, the Protecting American Lungs Reversing the Youth Tobacco Epidemic Act, which passed the House by a vote of 213-195. The legislation protects Americans from nicotine addiction by prohibiting the manufacturing and sale of all flavored tobacco products, removing flavored e-cigarettes from the market, and expanding marketing and advertisement restrictions currently applied to cigarettes and smokeless tobacco to include other products such as e-cigarettes.
"Over 480,000 Americans lose their lives to tobacco use and smoke exposure annually, and 16 million suffer from related illnesses," said Langevin. "It is essential that we enact polices that will keep harmful products like e-cigarettes out of reach of children. It is particularly concerning that the use of e-cigarettes among youth and young adults has more than doubled in recent years. We need this life-saving legislation because the health and wellbeing of an entire generation are at risk."
The bill prohibits non face-to-face sales of many tobacco products; requires the Federal Trade Commission to issue an annual report to Congress on the sales, advertising, and promotional activities of tobacco manufacturers for enhanced oversight; and provides grant funding to assist underserved communities with the goal of reducing and preventing tobacco, e-cigarette and nicotine addiction.
"From slates of appealing flavors, to misleading packaging and advertisement, tobacco companies continue to rely on strategies that are focused on generating revenue through the exploitation of millions of young men and women," continued Langevin. "The comprehensive restrictions and safeguards within H.R. 2339 directly push back on vaping companies' plans by prioritizing needed reforms to prevent deaths, diseases, and disabilities linked to tobacco products. The federal government must step up to end the tobacco health crisis that American communities are grappling with."
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