March 9, 2020 - Issue: Vol. 166, No. 45 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 2nd Session

[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E278]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




PROTECTING AMERICAN LUNGS AND REVERSING THE YOUTH TOBACCO EPIDEMIC ACT 
                              (H.R. 2339)

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 9, 2020

  Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2339, the 
Protecting American Lungs and Reversing the Youth Tobacco Epidemic Act.
  After years of declining smoking rates in the United States, the 
introduction of e-cigarettes has caused an alarming uptick in the rate 
of smoking, particularly amongst younger Americans. According to the 
U.S. Surgeon General, more than 5.3 million middle school and high 
school students used e-cigarettes in 2019, an alarming increase of more 
than 3 million in two years.
  H.R. 2339 offers a comprehensive approach for how we can reverse the 
youth vaping epidemic by banning promotion and advertising targeted at 
kids, taxing e-cigarettes the same way we tax other forms of tobacco, 
and banning online sales of most tobacco products. More specifically, 
this bill fulfills the promise that the Trump Administration failed to 
follow through with by banning all flavors for e-cigarettes and e-
liquids for devices that use open-tank systems.
  While I support the overall bill, I maintain some concerns with 
certain provisions within the legislation. Specifically, I am concerned 
with the effects this flavor ban may have for older Americans that use 
pipe tobacco and/or hookah. Some of my constituents who have been using 
the same flavored tobacco for pipes or hookah for decades should not be 
forced to give up their flavor of preference, especially when 
statistics indicate that younger Americans are not prone to use these 
products.
  Although I have these various concerns, I am still eager to take on 
``Big Nicotine'' and support the passage of H.R. 2339 to curb youth 
tobacco usage. I look forward to fixing any issues my colleagues and I 
may have when this bill goes to conference with the Senate.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote for Protecting American 
Lungs and Reversing the Youth Tobacco Epidemic Act.

                          ____________________