U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) on Jan. 21 introduced a bipartisan bill that aims to curb the nation’s rising numbers of youth who vape and protect them from the dangers posed by e-cigarettes.
“The dramatic increase in the use of e-cigarettes by our young people is threatening the progress we have made to reduce overall tobacco use,” Sen. Collins said. “Teachers have talked with me about the growing epidemic of vaping in high schools and middle schools in Maine.”
In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, e-cigarette use from 2011 to 2019 increased from 1.5 percent of high school students to 27.5 percent, and from 0.6 percent of middle school students to 10.5 percent.
Sen. Collins is an original cosponsor of the Resources to Prevent Youth Vaping Act, S. 3223, with bill sponsor U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), which would apply user fees with respect to tobacco products deemed subject to the requirements of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, according to the text of the bill.
“This legislation would impose fees on e-cigarette manufacturers similar to fees for other tobacco products, which could be used to support youth education and prevention initiatives, as well as greater enforcement activities such as age restrictions, marketing to children, and illegal products,” said Sen. Collins.
If enacted, the bill would increase the total amount to be collected in tobacco user fees by $100 million in fiscal year 2020 and index that amount to inflation for future years, according to a bill summary provided by Sen. Collins’ office, which noted that the amount collected would be proportional to each manufacturer’s share of the overall tobacco market, as determined by the federal government.
“Teachers and parents are overwhelmed by the youth vaping crisis — a crisis that’s the result of e-cigarette manufacturers marketing their products directly to young people. These companies should be on the hook for the funding to respond to this crisis,” said Sen. Shaheen. “Teachers and parents shouldn’t have to fight this fight alone.”