February 27, 2020 - Issue: Vol. 166, No. 39 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 2nd Session

[Page H1229]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     TAKING STRONG ACTION TO STOP THE EPIDEMIC OF YOUTH TOBACCO USE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Illinois (Ms. Underwood) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, this week the House is taking strong 
action to stop the epidemic of youth tobacco use.
  We have watched as the use of tobacco and vape products by kids has 
exploded in our community over the past months. It has become a full-
blown public health crisis affecting more than 5 million kids.
  More than 200 Illinoisans have suffered respiratory illness from 
dangerous vape products since last year. Eight of them have died. This 
shouldn't be happening.
  Thanks to decades of public health work and education, youth tobacco 
use was actually going down until the introduction of sophisticated 
vape products.
  Let's be clear, these products are targeted at kids. They are made 
with flavors like cotton candy and gummy bears. They are marketed 
directly to children, and they are designed to keep children hooked.
  This is a crisis that we will be dealing with for decades because 95 
percent of adult tobacco users started when they were kids, and there 
is still so much that we don't know about how the high doses of 
nicotine and other chemicals in these products affect kids' bodies and 
their minds.
  Given the FDA's failure to effectively regulate these products, 
Congress needs to act now before it is too late. It is time to stand up 
and refuse to let our kids be hurt. It is time to pass the Protecting 
American Lungs and Reversing the Youth Tobacco Epidemic Act of 2019.

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