Political Quotes

“Madam Speaker, I yield myself 1 minute. Madam Speaker, I will include in the Record a letter from Mothers of the Movement. They state, in part: ``We ask that, at the same time you consider health issues, you look carefully at the criminal justice impact of such a change in health policy. Our community has had plenty of experience living under laws passed with the best of intentions. Under your bill, cigarettes preferred by African Americans would be illegal; cigarettes preferred by non-African Americans would be legal.'' Mothers of the Movement, Miami Gardens, FL, October 11, 2019. Hon. Frank Pallone, Chairman, House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Pallone: We appreciate your focus on reviewing the health effects of tobacco and e-cigarettes in young people. We urge you to pay very close attention to the unintended effects of a ban on menthol cigarettes and what it would mean in the Urban community. We both strive hard to do our best and set examples in our community amongst the black youth. Our focus is within various cities throughout the country. We have witnessed encounters with law enforcement and negative policing which has been spread throughout our community. H.R. 2339, the Reversing the Youth Tobacco Epidemic Act, contains a provision that bans menthol cigarettes. We are concerned of the rising numbers of Black Americans who prefer menthol cigarettes.…”