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Reversing the Youth Tobacco Epidemic Act of 2019

Floor Speech

Date: Feb. 28, 2020
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Minors and Children Industries Federal, State and Local Relations

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Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Madam Speaker, as chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Health Braintrust, I rise to express my support for H.R. 2339, the Protecting American Lungs and Reversing the Youth Tobacco Epidemic Act of 2019.

This critical legislation will protect young people, especially young people of color, from a lifetime of nicotine addiction. Simply put, prohibiting menthol and other flavored tobacco products will save lives, especially Black lives.

Opponents of the legislation assert that because 85 percent of the African American smokers use menthol products that it would disproportionately harm communities of color. This logic only perpetuates the cycle in which many members of the African American community are already trapped. Tobacco companies specifically marketed menthol cigarettes to Black communities because they are more addictive. Opposing this bill only continues this shameful past.

We must pass H.R. 2339 and ensure the tobacco industry can no longer target minority communities to the detriment of public health.

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