On the recordOctober 28, 2019
Today I rise in support of H.R. 3942, the Preventing Online Sales of E-Cigarettes to Children Act. The spread of e-cigarettes is a public health crisis. I have had multiple conversations with parents who are seeing their children become addicted to tobacco products, and, as a mom, I refuse to stand idly by as a new generation of children become addicted to this substance. We have seen multiple deaths from the use of vaping products and several hundred lung disease cases in Florida alone. Approximately 5,600 kids in Florida are becoming new daily smokers each year. This is affecting children regardless of ZIP Code or income level. For years, e-cigarette companies have targeted our children using specialty flavors like cotton candy and made their products easy to purchase online without any age verification. We have the responsibility to do everything we can to keep this addictive substance out of the hands of our kids, including requiring online and in-person verification for e-cigarette purchases. The health of our Nation's children is at risk because of e- cigarettes and vaping products. The time to act is now.
