Cornyn, Feinstein Bill Blocking E-Cigarette Sales to Children Passes Senate

Statement

U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) released the following statements after their Preventing Online Sales of E-Cigarettes to Children Act, which would block online sales of electronic cigarettes to children, passed the Senate:

"The use of electronic cigarettes among children has become more and more pervasive, with a third of underage users buying e-cigarettes online," said Sen. Cornyn. "I look forward to President Trump signing this into law so we can help stop this generation of young Americans from developing unhealthy addictions."

"We must confront the growing youth vaping crisis. One key way to do that is by cutting off online sales to minors, one of the easiest ways for children to purchase these dangerous devices," said Senator Feinstein. "According to a report last year, more than a quarter of all high school students and one in 10 middle school students had vaped in the previous 30 days, despite the fact that they are underage and should not have legally been able to buy e-cigarettes. Age verification for purchasing e-cigarettes online remains practically nonexistent, and it's time we start regulating these products at least as much as we do traditional cigarettes."

Background:

The Preventing Online Sales of E-Cigarettes to Children Act would require e-cigarette online retailers to:

Verify the age of customers for all purchases.
Require an adult with ID to be present for delivery.
Label shipping packages to show they contain tobacco products.
Comply with all state and local tobacco tax requirements.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 3 million high schools students used electronic cigarettes in 2018, a 78 percent increase over the previous year. Today, one in five U.S. high school students report using e-cigarettes, which have become the most commonly used tobacco product by youth in the United States.

A recent survey published in the American Journal of Health Promotion found that 32 percent of underage e-cigarette users reported purchasing products online, making online sales the single largest source of purchases for underage users.

In addition to Senators Cornyn and Feinstein, the bill is cosponsored by Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Kamala Harris (D-CA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Susan Collins (R-ME), David Perdue (R-GA), John Boozman (R-AR), Michael Enzi (R-WY), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Edward Markey (D-MA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Martha McSally (R-AZ), Jack Reed (D-RI), and Pat Roberts (R-KS).

The bill is supported by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Lung Association, Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum, California Physicians Alliance, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, Children's Health Fund, Go2Foundation for Lung Cancer, National Alliance for Hispanic Health, National Association of Convenience Stores and Society of Independent Gasoline Marketers of America.

Source