Utah Valley Times

U.S. Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) has joined Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and other colleagues in reintroducing bipartisan legislation aimed at protecting children from the dangers of e-cigarettes. The Resources to Prevent Youth Vaping Act would require e-cigarette manufacturers to pay user fees to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in order to strengthen oversight of the industry and raise awareness about the dangers of e-cigarettes.

Senator Romney expressed concern over the influx of illicit vaping products into the United States, with over 90% of these products coming from China. He highlighted the targeting of young people with flavors such as blue cotton candy and pink lemonade, as well as the design of these products to deliver stronger nicotine levels. Senator Romney emphasized that the legislation would grant the FDA the authority to collect user fees on e-cigarettes, furthering efforts to address the vaping crisis and protect children from these addictive and illicit products.

Senator Shaheen, the lead sponsor of the legislation, stated that e-cigarettes continue to be an epidemic among youth and it is unacceptable for manufacturers to market harmful products to young people without facing serious consequences. She emphasized the need to close a major loophole that has allowed manufacturers to avoid paying fees to the FDA, which would help fund the agency's crackdown on youth vaping.

The legislation has garnered support from Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and Susan Collins (R-ME), as well as organizations like the American Lung Association, the American Heart Association, and the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.

Senator Murkowski highlighted the alarming statistic that teenage e-cigarette consumption has increased by 1,800% in the past year. She stressed the importance of expanding the FDA's authority to collect user fees on e-cigarette producers and using that money to increase youth awareness of the dangers of e-cigarettes and prevent sales to minors.

Senator Durbin emphasized the need to remove dangerous and addictive e-cigarette products from the shelves, urging Congress to pass the legislation to provide the FDA with additional resources for better regulation of the market.

Senator Baldwin expressed concern over the rise in youth vaping and stressed the need for increased oversight of the e-cigarette industry to prevent children from using these harmful products and reverse the youth vaping epidemic.

Senator Collins emphasized the impact of e-cigarette use by young people on the progress made in reducing tobacco use. She highlighted the need for fees on e-cigarette manufacturers to support youth education and prevention initiatives.

The legislation addresses the issue of unauthorized disposable e-cigarette products flooding the U.S. market. These products, which are manufactured in China and not legal in the U.S., have increased the use of e-cigarette products among teenagers and contributed to a resurgence of youth nicotine addiction. The bill aims to regulate new vaping devices and crack down on kid-friendly flavors by closing the loophole that currently exempts e-cigarette companies from paying FDA user fees.

The Resources to Prevent Youth Vaping Act would increase the total amount collected in tobacco user fees by $100 million, with future amounts indexed to inflation. The bill would also authorize the FDA to collect user fees from all manufacturers of products deemed tobacco products, including e-cigarettes. The additional revenue generated from e-cigarette user fees would be used by the FDA to conduct safety reviews of vaping products, prevent sales to minors, educate youth on the dangers of e-cigarettes, and enhance the agency's oversight and enforcement capabilities.

The introduction of this legislation reflects the urgent need to address the youth vaping crisis and protect children from the harmful effects of e-cigarettes.