American Lung Association Applauds Congress for Increasing Age of Sale for Tobacco Products to 21

In response to the announcement that the bipartisan “Tobacco 21” legislation to be included in the year-end legislative package, Harold P. Wimmer, National President and CEO of the American Lung Association issued the following statement: 

“The American Lung Association strongly supports the inclusion of the Senate HELP Committee’s legislation to increase the minimum age of sale of tobacco products to 21. Tobacco 21 will save lives. We urge President Trump to sign this bill into law. 

“The Lung Association thanks Congresswoman Diana DeGette (CO), whose efforts to require FDA to conduct a mandatory study about Tobacco 21 during the passage of the Tobacco Control Act in 2009 led to the Institute of Medicine report, concluding that a federal Tobacco 21 law will save lives. The Lung Association also commends Senator Brian Schatz (HI), who first championed this legislation in the U.S. Senate. We also express our appreciation to Senators Young (IN), Durbin (IL), Romney (UT), McConnell (KY), Kaine (VA) Alexander (TN) and Murray (WA) as well as Congressmen Stewart (UT) and Pallone (NJ), for their leadership.  

“Tobacco 21 is an important component of a comprehensive public health approach, but ultimately, more must be done by both Congress and the Trump Administration if our nation is to halt the youth e-cigarette epidemic. The Lung Association urges President Trump to move forward with clearing the markets of all flavored e-cigarettes and other meaningful polices that will have a significant impact on reducing youth tobacco use, including vaping. The Lung Association also urges Congress to take up and pass H.R. 2339, the Reversing the Youth E-Cigarette Epidemic, which among other key policies would remove all flavored tobacco products from the marketplace and prohibit the online (remote) sales of most tobacco products.”

For media interested in speaking with an expert about e-cigarettes, tobacco use and lung health, contact the American Lung Association at [email protected] or 312-801-7629.