Yvette Clarke: “I thank the gentleman for yielding me time to address this very important issue. I rise today in the best interests of…”

“I thank the gentleman for yielding me time to address this very important issue. I rise today in the best interests of the American people, the African American community, and my constituents. I include in the Record this letter from the ACLU about the concerns of H.R. 2339, Reversing the Youth and Tobacco Epidemic Act. February 27, 2020. Re Coalition Concerns with Blanket Prohibition on Menthol and Other Flavored Tobacco within H.R. 2339, Reversing the Youth Tobacco Epidemic Act. Hon. Frank Pallone, Chairman, House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Washington, DC. The undersigned civil rights and civil liberties organizations write to express concerns with a broad prohibition on menthol and other flavored tobacco products within H.R. 2339, the Reversing the Youth Tobacco Epidemic Act of 2019. While this legislation is a well-intended effort to address health issues associated with tobacco use among youth, we have concerns that a blanket prohibition on menthol and other flavored tobacco products, which will apply to adults, will (1) disproportionately impact people and communities of color; (2) trigger criminal penalties, prioritizing criminalization over public health and harm reduction; and (3) instigate unconstitutional policing and other negative interactions with local law enforcement. I. H.R.…”