Rep. DeGette Joins Reps. Esty, DeLauro, Ruiz, and Bustos to Introduce Bill Banning E-Cigarette Marketing to Children
WASHINGTON, DC — Today, U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (CO-01) joined U.S. Reps. Elizabeth Esty (CT-05), Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Raul Ruiz (CA-36), and Cheri Bustos (IL-17) to introduce the Protecting Children from Electronic Cigarette Advertising Act, H.R. 478, which would prohibit advertising and marketing of e-cigarettes to children.
While e-cigarettes remain largely unregulated on the federal level, over 1.8 million middle and high school students nationwide have tried e-cigarettes. Over 75% of them have also smoked traditional cigarettes. Between 2011 and 2013, the percentage of middle and high school students who have tried e-cigarettes more than tripled.
"We have seen clear examples of e-cigarette companies copying the marketing tactics that tobacco companies used to devastating success," said Congresswoman DeGette (CO-01). "No nicotine product should be in the hands of kids, and by stopping e-cigarette marketing that reaches teens, we can keep young Americans from having to live with nicotine's health consequences later in life."
"While the federal government continues to drag its feet, more and more of our children are getting hooked on nicotine. Alarmingly, one in four Connecticut high school students has tried e-cigarettes. Children and adolescents are not using e-cigarettes and vaporizers to quit smoking, but instead are using these devices to start smoking. That's why I introduced the Protecting Children from Electronic Cigarette Advertising Act to prohibit the advertising and marketing of e-cigarettes to children. E-cigarette companies are using shameful tactics, such as using Joe Camel-like cartoons in advertisements and creating e-cigarette flavors like bubblegum and cotton candy, to addict our children early—and guarantee another generation of smokers. We have made too much progress reducing nicotine use to roll back the clock now," said Congresswoman Esty (CT-05), who worked on smoking prevention and cessation as a lawyer, a state legislator, and a PTA volunteer in her children's classrooms.
"We must continue to fight the scourge of nicotine use among our nation's youth, including e-cigarettes," said Congresswoman DeLauro (CT-03), a member of the subcommittee responsible for funding the Food and Drug Administration. "Multiple reports, including from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Yale indicate that many more adolescents are seeking out these potentially dangerous nicotine delivery systems. Even worse, companies are aggressively targeting this market with candy-flavored products and celebrity endorsements. They are not healthy and fun; they are lethal, addictive, dangerous toxic nicotine delivery devices. Just one teaspoon of liquid nicotine can be lethal to a child. We should treat e-cigarettes like other tobacco products and stop companies from marketing them to children and teenagers. I am proud to join Congresswoman Esty in reintroducing this bill that would do just that."
"I have seen the destructive effects of nicotine addiction first hand working in the emergency room," said Dr. Ruiz (CA-36). "It is unconscionable that tobacco companies are targeting our youth in an attempt to get them addicted at an early age. This bill is a firm step toward prohibiting the advertising of e-cigarettes to children and stopping tobacco companies from creating a new generation of smokers."
"As a mother of three, the health and well-being of our nation's children is always top of mind," said Congresswoman Bustos (IL-17). "That's why I've joined with my colleagues to lead a renewed effort to prevent e-cigarettes from getting into kids' hands. Though e-cigarettes don't share all of the qualities of tobacco cigarettes, companies shouldn't be allowed to market them to young people. Our bill will help snuff out these deplorable advertising tactics before a new generation becomes hooked on nicotine."
Full text of the Protecting Children from Electronic Cigarette Advertising Act can be viewed here.
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