DeLauro Statement on FDA’s Regulatory Plan for Tobacco Products

WASHINGTON, DC (July, 28 2017)— Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) today released the following statement regarding the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)'s announcement of a comprehensive regulatory plan to fight tobacco addiction.

"Today's announcement by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is at odds with its mission to protect public health and reduce tobacco use by minors. While I am heartened that FDA will be pursuing cuts to nicotine levels in cigarettes and establishing standards on predatory flavorings, I am deeply disturbed by the agency's decision to allow e-cigarettes to remain on the market for the next five years without an independent science-based assessment of their risks to public health," said CongresswomanDeLauro.

"We must have strong regulations to protect our youth from the dangers of e-cigarettes and other tobacco products. We need to know what is in these products, who is making them, and how they are being marketed," said Congresswoman DeLauro. "I urge the FDA to quickly reverse course on this decision and do everything they can to protect our children's health."

It is now almost eight years since Congress passed the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. Yet there are still many kinds of tobacco products that are not fully regulated, and youth are using those products at disturbing rates. DeLauro is a senior member on the subcommittee responsible for funding the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. She has long fought to implement the deeming rule, most recently speaking out against Republican attempts to delay the rule during a markup of the Agriculture Appropriations bill this month.

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