North Cook News

WASHINGTON –On May 31, 2023 , U.S. Representatives Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) and Chris Stewart (R-UT) partnered with Senator Dick Durbin (D-to relaunch the bipartisan Congressional Caucus to End the Youth Vaping Epidemic. Since its founding in 2019, the Caucus has been dedicated to educating Members of Congress, public servants, and community stakeholders on the history of tobacco policy and regulation—especially as it pertains to e-cigarettes, as well as the industry’s responsibility for the youth vaping epidemic, and FDA regulation of tobacco products. Embracing this role as a resource for offices to distribute relevant, evidence-based information on developing policy regarding e-cigarettes, the Caucus also helps to coordinate responses from Members of Congress regarding youth e-cigarette use and its effect of the health of children, adolescents, and their families. 

 “Since the industry emerged, our children and adolescents have been targeted for vaping and nicotine addiction by e-cigarette makers seeking to profit off the health of America’s youth,” said Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi. “I am honored to relaunch this caucus with Senator Durbin and Congressman Stewart as the premiere forum in Congress for members of both parties to work together to protect our young people from the dangers and health risks of vaping and e-cigarettes. I am proud to join my co-chairs and all the members of our caucus in sending the clear message to big tobacco that our kids are not for sale.”

“I couldn’t be prouder to co-chair this bipartisan caucus and elevate the conversation around youth vaping,” said Rep. Stewart. “Young people across the country, including those in my home state, are using vaping products at an alarming rate. Simply put, our children deserve better protection from the dangers of nicotine addiction. This caucus is committed to finding real-world, bipartisan solutions that will combat the growing epidemic and create a healthier America for future generations.”

“The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids applauds the relaunch of the bipartisan Congressional Caucus to End the Youth Vaping Epidemic. We commend Reps. Krishnamoorthi and Stewart and Sen. Durbin for their leadership in reestablishing this caucus and all the members of Congress involved for their commitment to addressing this youth addiction crisis,” said Matthew L. Myers, President of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. “Youth e-cigarette use remains a serious public health problem, with over 2.5 million kids using e-cigarettes. We look forward to working with the caucus to support the policies necessary to protect our kids, especially FDA action to eliminate the flavored e-cigarettes that are driving this crisis.”

“With 2.5 million high school and middle school students vaping last year alone, we’re pleased to see members of Congress taking this issue seriously and reforming this Caucus,” stated Robin Koval, CEO and President of Truth Initiative. “At a time when the U.S. Surgeon General has warned of a youth mental health crisis, it is crucial to keep young people away from e-cigarettes and all products containing nicotine, a substance that can amplify feelings of anxiety and depression and increase stress levels. We applaud all the members of the Caucus, particularly Rep. Krishnamoorthi and Sen. Durbin for their leadership in bringing this coalition together.”

“CADCA and our 5,000 prevention coalitions nationwide are proud to support the Congressional Caucus to Combat Youth Vaping because of the tremendous costs and consequences that vaping has on our nation’s youth. Having a congressional caucus specifically focused on teen vaping issues will make a huge difference to ensure that congress adequately addresses the vaping epidemic facing our nation using both the bully pulpit as well as ensuring that policies and funding are available to deal with this issue,” said Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America President and CEO Major General Barrye L. Price, US Army Ret.

 “As the first and only national parent voice fighting youth vaping and the predatory behavior of the tobacco industry, Parents Against Vaping E-cigarettes is deeply grateful to Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi for his ongoing leadership in the fight to protect America’s kids from flavored e-cigarettes and nicotine addiction,” Parents Against Vaping E-cigarettes said in a statement. “FDA has allowed these flavored products to remain on the market without full regulation for years. And On May 31, 2023 Chinese vaping companies—no longer allowed to sell flavored e-cigarettes in China to protect Chinese kids—are exploiting FDA’s regulatory failures, flooding American ports with illegal products that are easily accessible to the more than 2.5 million American kids who are regularly vaping. In 2019, we and our children proudly stood alongside Rep. Krishnamoorthi and his colleagues when they launched this important caucus and we are thrilled that legislators are once again pushing this urgent adolescent public-health issue to the forefront, particularly now that youth vaping is colliding with the adolescent mental-health crisis affecting millions of families across the country. We applaud Congressman Krishnamoorthi’s persistence and hope that with its members’ bipartisan support, the caucus will urge FDA to immediately end sales of all flavored tobacco products and advocate for more education about tobacco use; cessation services; and treatment options for those whose lives have been upended by youth vaping and nicotine addiction.”

 “Millions of teens are currently addicted to e-cigarettes and millions of illegal flavored e-cigarette products are still being sold across the United States. Congress must ensure FDA, the Justice Department and other law enforcement take action to remove illegal e-cigarettes from the market to protect the health of our nation. The American Lung Association is proud to support the Congressional Caucus to End the Youth Vaping Epidemic and thanks the bipartisan leadership collaboration between Senator Dick Durbin and Representatives Raja Krishnamoorthi and Chris Stewart for their leadership to protect our nation’s youth from the disease and addiction associated with tobacco use,” said Harold Wimmer, National President and CEO of the American Lung Association.

 

“The COPD Foundation is proud to support the bipartisan Congressional Caucus to End the Youth Vaping Epidemic. We look forward to educating and advocating alongside the Caucus for the benefit of our children’s lung health,” the COPD Foundation said in a statement.

“The American Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry applauds the relaunch of the Congressional Caucus to End the Youth Vaping Epidemic. Youth vaping is an epidemic, with 1 in 10 (2.5 million) U.S. middle and high school students currently vaping,” said American Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry president Warren Y. K. Ng, MD, “Nicotine exposure during adolescence is associated with behavioral and neurochemical changes along with continued engagement in tobacco and other drug use. Youth are being increasingly targeted through direct advertisements, peer marketing, social media, and pop culture. We thank Congressman Krishnamoorthi for his leadership in tackling the vaping epidemic.”

“The American Heart Association commends Rep. Krishnamoorthi and his bipartisan and bicameral colleagues for reinstating the Congressional Caucus to End the Youth Vaping Epidemic in the 118th Congress,” said Mark Schoeberl, Executive Vice President, Advocacy, American Heart Association. “Our country needs strong action from our leaders to respond to the ongoing health threat that e-cigarettes pose to our children. Together, we can prevent these highly appealing, yet dangerous products from ending up in the hands of our nation’s youth.

“Pediatricians witness first-hand the dangerous health consequences of e-cigarette use by young people. It is essential that lawmakers work together to urgently address the youth vaping epidemic and protect our children and adolescents from lifelong addiction. The American Academy of Pediatrics thanks Representatives Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.) and Chris Stewart (R-Utah) and Senator Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) for their ongoing leadership on this issue and we look forward to continuing to call for bold action from federal leaders that keeps these harmful products out of the hands of children and adolescents,” said American Academy of Pediatrics President Sandy Chung, MD, FAAP.

“The Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) is thrilled that Representatives Krishnamoorthi and Stewart are reestablishing the Caucus to End the Youth Vaping Epidemic,” said ONS President Danya Garner, PhD, RN, NPD-BC, OCN, CCRN-K.  Dr. Garner added that, “ONS nurses will continue to advocate alongside the caucus to reduce the number of teens that use tobacco and nicotine products, including e-cigarettes.” 

“The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) applauds the reestablishment of the bipartisan Congressional Caucus to End the Youth Vaping Epidemic,” said Dr. Jonathan Bernstein, MD, FAAAAI, President of the AAAAI. Bernstein added, “Our members strive to educate teens about the dangers of e-cigarettes, including nicotine and cannabis use. We look forward to working with Representatives Krishnamoorthi and Stewart to ensure congress continues to prioritize the respiratory heath of children across our nation.” 

“The work of the Caucus is vital to reducing the impact of the vaping epidemic on the 2.5 million youth who report using e-cigarettes,” said Joel Africk, Pres. And CEO of Respiratory Health Association.  “Flavored e-cigarettes, which have been found to be particularly attractive to youth and minorities, will lead to the addiction of another generation of smokers unless Congress acts swiftly and decisively.”

Bipartisan Members of the Caucus: Senator Durbin and Reps. Stewart*, Brownley, Cartwright, Cherfilus-McCormick, Cohen, Craig, Davis, DeGette, DeLauro, DeSaulnier, Dingell, Doggett, Garcia (IL), Gottheimer, Kim, Kuster, Larson, Lee (CA), Meng, Holmes Norton, Raskin, Blunt Rochester, Ruiz, Schakowsky, Schrier, Schultz, Sewell, Stevens, Tlaib, Tonko, Van Drew, Underwood.

This Caucus is endorsed by organizations including: Tobacco Free Kids (TFK), Truth Initiative, Parents Against Vaping e-Cigarettes (PAVe), Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), Association for the Treatment of Tobacco Use and Dependence (ATTUD), Preventing Tobacco Addiction Foundation/Tobacco 21, IntelliQuit - Custom Fit the Quit, Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA), COPD Foundation, The Breathing Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI), Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, American Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, American Heart Association, American Lung Association, American College of Cardiology, American Dental Association, American Student Dental Association, Oncology Nursing Society (ONS), Emphysema Foundation of America, The Society of Thoracic Surgeons, National Center for Health Research, National LGBT Cancer Network, National Alliance for Hispanic Health, National Hispanic Medical Association, National Association of Secondary School Principals, National Association of School Nurses, American School Health Association, Students Against Destructive Decisions, The Society of State Leaders of Health and Physical Education, The National Alliance to Advance Adolescent Health, Big Cities Health Coalition (BCHC), Association for Clinical Oncology, March of Dimes, Catholic Health Association of the United States, BREATHE Southern California, Collaborative for Children's Health Policy (Illinois), Utah Public Health Association, National Association of County and City Health Officials, National Black Nurses Association, Prevent Cancer Foundation®, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center 

Original source can be found here.