Call to Action: Ask Your Legislators to Support a Change to the Tobacco Control Act

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Sirius

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Come on people! :) I am technophobic and was able to do this in 3 min. they made it so easy. :thumbs:

The truth is Chooch..Most people don't even know who Boehner is..Or that he is the Speaker of the House and has been since 2011.
If they were interested they could go to opensecrets.org and find all the members of congress..then email them to find their position on e-cigs.
https://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/

Sure,..most give a cookie cutter answer but some are surprisingly candid about it.

You could even find for instance Rep. Scalise's top five contributors:

https://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00009660

Nothing hard about it Chooch. ;)

Some might wonder if Mitch McConnell will favor e-cigs due to his being from Kentucky where one major cash crop is tobacco?
It cant be a bad thing..after all, the FDA deemed e-cigs a tobacco product. :)
 

kkay59

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I signed the stuff. I would have done it sooner, but this wasn't brought to my attention. I don't know what good it will do. It seems that our voice doesn't seem to matter much anymore in Congress. Some of these folks are so out of touch with regular people, that it isn't funny. A huge majority in this country are struggling. This is one booming business. You can say their heavy taxation of cigarettes was partly the cause of it. Some are quitting for health reasons. Others just quit because the cigarettes are too expensive. They may move on down to a generic, but then again, maybe not. In the long run it would benefit this country, if they would leave vapers alone. This is one thing that can help keep people from being a totally obnoxious pain in the rear. Quitting smoking is not easy. I did it just a few days before I started vaping. If this helps people, leave them the h_ll alone.
 
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JustJulie

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If you did not receive an email from CASAA about this, it means one of two things . . . either you're not signed up as a member OR it went to your spam file. (It is perhaps inevitable that when we send out 30,000 emails, a good portion of them are going to be marked as spam by various email servers.)

Be sure to add the email address takeaction@casaa.org as well as board@casaa.org to your “Safe Senders” list or your address book so that our emails do not get marked as SPAM.
 

Katya

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If you did not receive an email from CASAA about this, it means one of two things . . . either you're not signed up as a member OR it went to your spam file. (It is perhaps inevitable that when we send out 30,000 emails, a good portion of them are going to be marked as spam by various email servers.)

Be sure to add the email address takeaction@casaa.org as well as board@casaa.org to your “Safe Senders” list or your address book so that our emails do not get marked as SPAM.

Or it was sent to me--I received another email yesterday, but, in fairness, it does say that I have already signed the petition. :)
 

Sirius

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If you did not receive an email from CASAA about this, it means one of two things . . . either you're not signed up as a member OR it went to your spam file. (It is perhaps inevitable that when we send out 30,000 emails, a good portion of them are going to be marked as spam by various email servers.)

Be sure to add the email address takeaction@casaa.org as well as board@casaa.org to your “Safe Senders” list or your address book so that our emails do not get marked as SPAM.

Thnx for the reminder..I was locked out of Outlook and am using my secondary email @gmail.com..I'll go to CASAA and re-submit email addy. ;)
 

csardaz

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Fact is, a letter from Beohner to the FDA means almost nothing, Beohners power is not in writing letters but in changing laws. The Law that was passed that gives FDA Power, doesn't let them change the grandfather date just because they get a letter from the house leadership.

So whats needed for this is a little amendment stuck into some law or another that forces or permits the FDA to set a new grandfather date. If they do it like Beohner suggested and change the grandfather date for all the newly-deemed product classes, then a bunch of cig-alike cigars and roll-your-own-alike pipe tobacco's would get grandfathered the same as more modern E-Cigs - that would be bad and thus many legislators wouldn't sign on to it unless it was included along with other stuff they couldn't vote NO against.

So whats needed is an amendment specific to E-Cigs that says the evolution of this product since 2007 is invaluable, so the grandfather date should be moved to 2015 AND the FDA regulations for E-Cigs should be crafted to permit ongoing evolution/improvement of E-Cig tech.
 

Imme

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Two day Bump! There are a lot of people who care, and would do these calls to action if they only knew about them.

I spoke to someone who has been vaping for around 4 years, is well known within the vaping community and spends a lot of time on Reddit's e-cig forums, and on Facebook. He's also the host for of a vaping show that airs every week with over 50 shows to their name. Yet he didn't even know about the crowd funding campaign for Dr. Farsalinos until one day before it ended.

He contributed to the campaign within an hour of finding out so I know it wasn't because he isn't interested or doesn't care. But if he, and KKay59 didn't know than there needs to be a better way for all of us to communicate from within.
 

AllPepperS

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Done and done, even got an answer from Rep. Patrick Murphy. I'm in FL.

Here's part of it:

Thank you for contacting me about electronic cigarettes. I appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts on this matter, and I welcome the opportunity to respond.

Currently, there is no legislation in the House specific to e-cigarettes, but business and government alike recognize the ever growing market of electronic, portable smoking devices. What was a relatively niche market just a decade ago is now a two billion dollar industry. These small devices heat nicotine into a vapor instead of burning tobacco. Though the nicotine is released via heat instead of fire, e-cigarettes release many of the same chemicals and irritants as those found in traditional smoked tobacco. Though these chemicals still pose health risks, adults who continue to smoke or wish to quit smoking find that e-cigarettes have benefits over conventional cigarettes.

Recently, the Food and Drug Administration announced plans to expand regulations under the Tobacco Control Act of 2009 to include tobacco-free e-cigarettes. These policies include enhanced age verification measures, restrictions on advertising and marketing aimed at children, and support for smoking cessation efforts. These efforts to reduce minors' access to tobacco and e-cigarettes are especially important because many states and local governments do not prohibit the sale of e-cigarettes to minors. With tobacco-related illness still the leading cause of preventable death in the United States, I commend the FDA for taking proactive steps to reduce tobacco use and restrict minors' access to tobacco products nationally. As a member of the House Committee on Small Business, I will continue to solicit input from manufacturers, business owners, and public health officials alike in determining how taxation may affect this thriving industry while prioritizing the protection minors and maintaining a strong standard of community wellbeing.
 

csardaz

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We had a Pat Murphy here in PA - an Iraq vet - he proposed one bill regarding veterans and didn't win re-election. I remember more the young lady he sent around to ask if/why he should run again - she was really lovely. Anyway your Pat seems to have someone sharp on his staff.

"Though the nicotine is released via heat instead of fire, e-cigarettes release many of the same chemicals and irritants as those found in traditional smoked tobacco." sounds more like "heat not Burn" products but I guess it depends how you define "Many" and whether they consider levels of exposure. E-juice has a few chems, they may turn into dozens when heated - is that 'many' compared to the thousands in smoke? Some of the chems they might count are at trace levels - measurable but insignificant.

Ah people on this forum know all about that. I guess I started writing because of a memory of Pat Murphy's campaign worker smiling and walking away.
 

Sirius

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My letter from Sen Saxby Chambliss:

Dear Mr. Taylor:



Thank you for contacting me regarding electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes). I appreciate hearing from you on this issue.



As you know, e-cigarettes are battery-powered vaporizers that turn nicotine, flavorings, and other chemicals into an aerosol, which is inhaled by the user. Because these products have not been fully studied, we are unaware of the potential health risks that may be associated with them.



I believe we should protect minors from products that may influence them to try conventional cigarettes in the future. Whenever possible, I believe that regulatory issues should be left to the states. During the last session of the Georgia General Assembly, HB 251 was passed and signed into law by Governor Nathan Deal on April 15, 2014. This bill prohibits the sale of alternative nicotine products to those under the age of 18 within the State of Georgia.



I will continue to monitor the federal regulation of these products. Should legislation regarding e-cigarettes come before the full Senate, I will keep your thoughts in mind.



If you would like to receive timely email alerts regarding the latest congressional actions and my weekly e-newsletter, please sign up via my web site at: www.chambliss.senate.gov. Please let me know whenever I may be of assistance.
 

bigdancehawk

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I received this from Missouri's US Senator Blunt:



Thank you for contacting me about electronic cigarettes.



The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has stopped seizing shipments of electronic cigarettes as a result of lawsuits brought against them. The FDA invited the electronic cigarette industry to work in conjunction with the agency to assure that these products are lawfully marketed.



There is currently no legislation pending in Congress concerning this issue, but I will be sure to keep your thoughts in mind as the situation continues to develop.



Again, thank you for contacting me. I look forward to continuing our conversation on Facebook (www.facebook.com/SenatorBlunt) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/RoyBlunt) about the important issues facing Missouri and the country. I also encourage you to visit my website (blunt.senate.gov) to learn more about where I stand on the issues and sign-up for my e-newsletter.


Sincere regards,

Roy Blunt
United States Senator
 

Sirius

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I believe we should protect minors from products that may influence them to try conventional cigarettes in the future. Whenever possible, I believe that regulatory issues should be left to the states. During the last session of the Georgia General Assembly, HB 251 was passed and signed into law by Governor Nathan Deal on April 15, 2014. This bill prohibits the sale of alternative nicotine products to those under the age of 18 within the State of Georgia.



I will continue to monitor the federal regulation of these products. Should legislation regarding e-cigarettes come before the full Senate, I will keep your thoughts in mind.



If you would like to receive timely email alerts regarding the latest congressional actions and my weekly e-newsletter, please sign up via my web site at: www.chambliss.senate.gov. Please let me know whenever I may be of assistance.

Weird thing about that 18 years old law is,..today I saw a group on Fb that was a lower the vaping age to 12 years old page.
I think it was called,.."Kids Right To Vape"
How stupid can some people be? I hope it got deleted as I among others reported it. I don't usually report anything but dayum! SMH
 

EBates

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This is what I got in response to the the grandfather change letter.

Thank you for contacting me regarding the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). I appreciate having the benefit of your comments on this important issue.

As you may know, on April 24, 2014, the FDA issued a proposed rule that would extend new regulatory authority to e-cigarettes and various other tobacco products, including cigars, pipe tobacco, and nicotine gels. Under the proposed rule, these products would be subject to controls such as registration and product listing requirements, prohibition on providing free samples, and restrictions on marketing products prior to FDA review. Additionally, minimum age and identification requirements would be implemented to prevent sales to underage youth. The public comment period for this rule closed July 9, 2014, and a final rule is expected to be issued by June 2015.

I appreciate having the opportunity to represent Texas in the United States Senate. Thank you for taking the time to contact me.

Sincerely,
JOHN CORNYN
United States Senator

Need less to say I was not pleased. And responded to his informative message

I'm very disappointed by your NON-respose. What I see is a Standard Politician's response.

I'm very sorry that I voted for you. And I dearly hope that the competition that runs against you in upcoming elections is Man/Woman enough to make a statement in support or disapproval of a request from a person he is elected to represent. I feel that we the voting public deserve better.
 

AllPepperS

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Senator Bill Nelson FL response

Thank you for contacting me regarding the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) proposed rules for the regulation of electronic cigarettes, commonly known as e-cigarettes. I appreciate your concerns.

In April 2014, the FDA released their first proposal for regulating e-cigarettes. Under these new rules, companies would no longer be allowed to sell their product to minors, offer free samples, or assert that their products are less harmful than cigarettes without FDA approval. Companies would also be required to disclose ingredients in their products and carry warnings that they contain nicotine.

I have heard from Floridians on all sides of this issue. Some see e-cigarettes as a true alternative to traditional cigarettes, and they are excited by its potential to help people quit smoking. Others are concerned that the wide array of flavors and broad accessibility will attract children and encourage them to try other tobacco products.

Although e-cigarettes may benefit public health, I am troubled by their availability to minors and the lack of reliable health studies. Educating children about the dangers of smoking is the best way to prevent them from ever starting the habit.

Rest assured that I will continue to monitor the situation as it develops. Please do not hesitate to contact me in the future.

Sincerely,
Bill Nelson
 
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