On the recordFebruary 27, 2020
Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Madam Speaker, this bill claims to curb youth tobacco use, including vaping. The reality is it bans many types of tobacco products that are legally and voluntarily used by adults. While I do not support any form of tobacco use, it is a choice for law-abiding adults to make. The unintended consequences of suddenly making legal tobacco products illegal will likely push people to the black market to seek the same products--or worse. If we really want to address vaping, we need to target products containing tetrahydrocannabinol, THC. As I previously stated, we just recently made tobacco use illegal for those under the age of 21, and the Trump administration has banned certain flavored e-cigarette products. This is a problem that requires a multilayered approach. Unfortunately, the provisions in this bill will not produce the desired result, and could even create more harm than good for some populations. Republicans do stand ready to work on bipartisan solutions to increase the health of our population and to protect our young people, but I need to urge a ``no'' vote on the previous question, a ``no'' vote on the rule, and a ``no'' vote on the underlying measure. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
