House Passes Rep. Hayes Legislation To Combat Teen Tobacco Epidemic In Connecticut And Remove Barriers To Colorectal Cancer Screening

Statement

Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-5) voted in favor of H.R. 2339, the Protecting American Lungs and Reversing the Youth Tobacco Epidemic Act of 2019. In 2019, the number of middle and high school students using tobacco reached 5.3 million, a staggering surge of 3 million over the span of two years. This has been attributed to the widespread availability and appeal of kid-friendly flavors and has reversed the progress made in previous years against the use of tobacco among this group. H.R. 2339 is critical legislation that provides a comprehensive approach to address this health epidemic and prevents the loss of a generation to a lifetime of nicotine addiction.

"The tobacco industry has consistently targeted young people through the promotion of kid-friendly flavors," said Congresswoman Hayes. "With 5.3 million students now using e-cigarettes, this is a public health crisis. According to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, 56,000 kids in Connecticut under the age of 18 will ultimately die prematurely from smoking. The health of Connecticut's children is of the highest priority. This legislation bans flavored tobacco, protecting the lives and well-being of our young people."

The Protecting American Lungs and Reversing the Youth Tobacco Epidemic Act also includes two critical pieces of legislation: H.R. 4716, the Inhaler Coverage and Access Now Act, and H.R. 1570, the Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act -- a bill cosponsored by Congresswoman Hayes.

H.R. 2339 is supported by:

-Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids
-American Lung Association
-American Heart Association
-American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
-NAACP
-National Medical Association
-National Education Association

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