McConnell/Kaine Tobacco-Free Youth Act Approved by Key Senate Committee

Statement

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) announced today that the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) approved their Tobacco-Free Youth Act. The McConnell/Kaine bill would raise the nationwide minimum age to buy all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes and vaping devices, from 18 to 21. The legislation is co-sponsored by Senators Pat Roberts (R-KS) and Mark Warner (D-VA).

As senators from two states with a long history of tobacco production and consumption, Senators McConnell and Kaine have seen the negative effects of youth tobacco use and have heard compelling public health stories from concerned constituents throughout their states. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), from 2017 to 2018, youth e-cigarette users increased by 1.5 million, with more than 1 in 4 high school students having reported using a tobacco product in the past 30 days. In response, the two Senators introduced the Tobacco-Free Youth Act to help stem the tide of these alarming trends by making it unlawful for retailers to sell tobacco products to anyone younger than 21.

A report from the Institute of Medicine found that most adult smokers start smoking before age 21 and that increasing the tobacco age to 21 would save lives, improve public health, and reduce tobacco initiation among youth. These young people may not know what chemicals they are putting into their bodies, let alone know the long-term health risks that could negatively impact them as adults.

"I'm grateful to my colleagues for advancing our legislation to help curb the spike of youth tobacco use," said Senator McConnell. "Senator Kaine and I are especially proud of the positive reception we've received from parents concerned about this problem in their own families. Because children are extremely vulnerable to becoming addicted to nicotine and suffering its lifelong consequences, we must do everything we can to keep these products out of their hands. Passing our legislation out of the HELP Committee is a critical next step toward protecting kids from tobacco's addiction. I look forward to continuing to work with Senator Kaine and our colleagues on this vital legislation that can help give Kentucky's young people every opportunity to grow into healthy adults"

"I'm thrilled that the HELP Committee passed our bipartisan legislation to raise the tobacco age to 21. This is a great step forward in our efforts to protect public health and tackle the youth vaping crisis. I look forward to working with Leader McConnell and our colleagues on both sides of the aisle to get this legislation across the finish line," said Senator Kaine.

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