“While we are glad you acknowledge that changes must be made to counter the epidemic of youth e-cigarette use, we are concerned that the recently announced steps are insufficient to turn the tide on the extreme increase in youth use of e-cigarettes of the impacts of the agency’s previous delays. In particular, we are concerned that by excluding mint and menthol products – which are used by more than half of youth e-cigarette users –the updated policy overlooks two popular flavors used by youth.” They go on to ask for more details regarding the age restrictions that physical and online retailers will be required to follow and how the FDA will go about determining whether its proposal truly addresses the issue of rising e-cigarette use among youth.
All of the 21 senators voicing their support of the bill are Democrats and include: Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn.; Sherrod Brown, (D-Ohio); Chris Coons, (D-Del.); Richard Durbin, (D-Ill.); Dianne Feinstein, (D-Cal.); Kristen Gillibrand, (D-N.Y.); Kamala Harris, (D-Cal.); Margaret Hassan, (D-N.H.); Amy Klobuchar, (D-Minn.); Edward Markey, (D-Mass.); Catherine Cortez Masto, (D-Nev.); Jeffrey Merkley, (D-Ore.); Patty Murray, (D-Wash.); Jack Reed, (D-R.I.); Brian Schatz, (D-Hawaii); Jeanne Shaheen, (D-N.H.); Tina Smith, (D-Minn.); Tom Udall, (D-N.M.); Elizabeth Warren, (D-Mass.); Sheldon Whitehouse, (D-R.I.); Ron Wyden, (D-Ore.)
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