Pallone Steps Up Call for Ban on E-Cigarettes on Airplanes, Following "Unacceptable" Delays

Statement

Following what Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) called "unacceptable" delays and inaction by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), the Congressman has stepped up his call for the banning of electronic cigarettes, also known as e-cigarettes, on airplanes. Pallone today sent a letter to DOT Secretary Anthony Foxx urging the agency finalize a rule -- which was originally proposed by DOT nearly four years ago, in September 2011 -- banning the use of e-cigarettes on domestic and international commercial flights. In the letter, Congressman Pallone called on DOT to complete this process and amend federal regulations to state, unequivocally, that the use of e-cigarettes will not be allowed on airplanes.

"It is unacceptable that the rule to ban e-cigarettes on commercial planes was proposed almost four years ago and has yet to be finalized," said Congressman Pallone. "I am hopeful that DOT will finally take action on this important rule, and I look forward to working with Secretary Foxx to finally complete this process."

More than a year ago, Pallone wrote to Secretary Foxx requesting that he expeditiously finalize the rule. In today's letter, Pallone expressed disappointment with the continued delay and called for immediate action. Pallone also highlighted that while most domestic airlines do not allow the use of e-cigarettes on their flights, federal law is not clear and should be amended to explicitly ban e-cigarettes on commercial aircrafts.

"The late Senator Frank Lautenberg from New Jersey was instrumental in passing legislation over 20 years ago that banned smoking on airplanes," continued Pallone. "Now, decades later, we have a responsibility to exercise similar caution with regard to e-cigarettes, especially since the health risks these products pose are not fully known."

Congressman Pallone has repeatedly drawn attention to the risks that tobacco products and nicotine continue to pose to public health. Most recently, he urged chain pharmacies across the country to stop selling cigarettes and other tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, in their stores. He also called on the Food and Drug Administration to release regulations regarding the manufacture and distribution of e-cigarettes, which were later issued in April 2014. He has consistently expressed serious concerns regarding marketing tactics being employed by some e-cigarette companies, which are similar to those previously used by tobacco companies to appeal to younger people, such as through candy flavoring, cartoon images, and event sponsorships.

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