Utah Valley Times

U.S. Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) has joined a bipartisan group of colleagues, led by Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), in sending a letter to Deputy Assistant Attorney General Arun Rao and Dr. Brian King, Director of the FDA Center for Tobacco Products. The letter seeks information on the newly announced interagency task force aimed at combating the illegal sale and distribution of unauthorized e-cigarettes.

The senators' letter emphasizes the need to restore the premarket review process mandated by federal law and urges the FDA to complete its overdue review of pre-market tobacco product applications (PMTAs) from e-cigarette manufacturers. Since missing a court-imposed deadline on September 9, 2021, approximately 2.1 million children have reportedly taken up vaping. The new deadline for completing this review is June 30, 2024.

"We appreciate the recent announcement that a federal task force has been established to enhance enforcement against these illegal and dangerous products through collaboration among various agencies," wrote the senators. "We remain deeply concerned about the inconsistency between FDA and DOJ’s public statements that there are only 27 FDA-authorized e-cigarettes and the reality that thousands of unauthorized e-cigarettes in kid-friendly flavors are readily available for purchase."

Joining Romney and Durbin in signing the letter were Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

The full text of their letter includes concerns over youth vaping levels fueled by unauthorized e-cigarettes and calls for responses from Rao and King by July 26, 2024.

Romney has been active in legislative efforts to curb youth vaping as a member of the HELP Committee. His bipartisan Tobacco to 21 Act was signed into law in 2020, raising the legal age for purchasing tobacco products to 21. He has also introduced measures such as the Ending New Nicotine Dependencies Act, which aims to ban flavored vaping products permanently, ensure tamper-proof cartridges, and fund public education campaigns.

Recently, Romney urged FDA Commissioner Robert Califf and Attorney General Merrick Garland to regain control over the e-cigarette market through effective enforcement strategies.