Pallone Commends FDA on Proposed Menthol and E-Cigarette Crackdown & Announces Legislation to Go Even Further

Washington, D.C. – Energy and Commerce Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) released the following statement today on the alarming statistics on youth e-cigarette usage released by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the announcement on FDA's new steps to address the youth e-cigarette crisis and proposal to ban menthol in combustible tobacco products:

"The statistics on youth e-cigarette usage released today by FDA and CDC are shocking. While I am appalled that this epidemic has been permitted to flourish, I am also encouraged by FDA's actions today to respond to this crisis. I commend Commissioner Gottlieb and FDA on the agency's proposal to restrict the sale of flavored e-cigarette products in retail stores and increase age-verification requirements for flavored products that kids and teens are disproportionately more likely to use. However, I continue to believe that the availability of flavored e-cigarette products overall should be reconsidered in order to fully combat this epidemic. FDA's proposal to ban menthol in combustible tobacco products is also a critical step forward that will reduce tobacco initiation and should be implemented as quickly as possible.

"Today's announcement should put tobacco and e-cigarette manufacturers on notice that marketing and selling products to youth will not be tolerated.

"I will continue working with FDA to ensure their proposals are implemented. I will also be releasing legislation in the coming days to address the epidemic of youth tobacco and e-cigarette use by restricting flavored e-cigarette products even further than FDA's proposal and enacting additional marketing requirements for these products."

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