Congressman's reply to FDA regulation

[Zumeraga]

Hi All, as per the suggestion that we contact our elected Representatives I sent email's to both of my US Senators and to my Congressman. I got a very generic reply from one of the Senators, which I was very unhappy with, and then this reply from my Congressman, Derek Kilmer. I was actually quite impressed with this reply and yes, I realize it was someone on his staff and not him that replied, however the depth of the reply impressed me. That someone actually took the time and looked into it a bit before sending this to me. I can't say he agreed with me however at least he said he would listen. And I apologize ahead of time for the length of the response.

From: "Representative Derek Kilmer" <WA06DKima@mail.house.gov>
Date: Thu, 24 Oct 2013 17:28:15 -0400
To: <paulhughes@prodigy.net>
Subject: Responding to Your Message

<https://iqconnect.lmhostediq.com/iqextranet/iqClickTrk.aspx?&cid=WA06DK&crop=13881.5150472.5053803.7123300&redirect=http%3a%2f%2fhouse.gov%2f>
<https://iqconnect.lmhostediq.com/iqextranet/Customers/WA06DK/Kilmer_banner.png>

Dear Mr. Hughes,



Thank you for contacting me about the Food and Drug Administration's plan to propose regulations on electronic cigarettes. I appreciate you taking the time to write and share your thoughts with me.

Some people believe that electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) should be regulated because of the addictive nicotine in the product and minor's ability to access and misuse them. A Center for Disease Control and Prevention study <https://iqconnect.lmhostediq.com/iqextranet/iqClickTrk.aspx?&cid=WA06DK&crop=13881.5150472.5053803.7123300&redirect=http%3a%2f%2fwww.cdc.gov%2fmmwr%2fpreview%2fmmwrhtml%2fmm6235a6.htm> showed that high school students' use of e-cigarettes doubled from 2011 to 2012. Others argue that e-cigarettes help users wean off of conventional cigarettes that lead to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people every year due to diseases caused by smoking.

In Sottera, Inc v. Food and Drug Administration,the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit issued a decision that e-cigarettes can be regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The agency has indicated that it will soon propose a rule <https://iqconnect.lmhostediq.com/iqextranet/iqClickTrk.aspx?&cid=WA06DK&crop=13881.5150472.5053803.7123300&redirect=http%3a%2f%2fwww.fda.gov%2fnewsevents%2fpublichealthfocus%2fucm252360.htm> that may result in additional restrictions on how e-cigarettes are made and sold.

Attorneys General from across the nation – including Washington State – sent a letter <https://iqconnect.lmhostediq.com/iqextranet/iqClickTrk.aspx?&cid=WA06DK&crop=13881.5150472.5053803.7123300&redirect=http%3a%2f%2fag.nv.gov%2fuploadedFiles%2fagnvgov%2fContent%2fNews%2fPR%2fPR_Docs%2f2013%2fE_Cigarette_Final_Letter.pdf> to FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg, requesting that the FDA meet their October 31, 2013 deadline to propose rules to regulate marketing and ingredients, and to better restrict and limit e-cigarette sales to young people.

I look forward to reviewing the FDA's proposed rule on e-cigarettes. Once their rule is released, I would invite you to review it too. I encourage you continue to share your views with me and also share your concerns directly with the agency at Regulations.gov <https://iqconnect.lmhostediq.com/iqextranet/iqClickTrk.aspx?&cid=WA06DK&crop=13881.5150472.5053803.7123300&redirect=http%3a%2f%2fwww.regulations.gov> .

Thank you for reaching out. It is an honor to serve as your representative.


Sincerely,
<https://iqconnect.lmhostediq.com/iqextranet/Customers/WA06DK/Kilmer_sig.png>
Derek Kilmer
Member of Congress

 

[Myk]

You're actually impressed with that???

This is what he said.
Ecigs are bad because we, your government, took a poll and then twisted the results to say what we wanted them to say.
The FDA has the power to regulate ecigs however they see fit because we, your government, said they do. I'm actually lying to you about the court case by telling you that it was the court who gave them that power, the court actually said if they have any hope to rule over ecigs it will be as a tobacco product. It was my branch of government that gave the FDA power over tobacco.
People with more power than you, a lowly voter have contacted us. They, your government, contacted we, your government. Now who do you really think I'm going to listen to?

I look forward to the FDA regulating ecigs. Until they do regulate them and it's too late, you have nothing to complain about. To paraphrase the first president George Bush, sit down and shut up.

BTW, please vote for me.

 

[Petrodus]

We're all aware of what's going on in Washington ...
Anyone really think any of our elected official gives a damn about e-cigarettes ??

 

[Psyche]

How good would it feel to send this reply back to them?
I'm not saying that its a great idea, but the translation is so dead on!

You're actually impressed with that???

This is what he said.
Ecigs are bad because we, your government, took a poll and then twisted the results to say what we wanted them to say.
The FDA has the power to regulate ecigs however they see fit because we, your government, said they do. I'm actually lying to you about the court case by telling you that it was the court who gave them that power, the court actually said if they have any hope to rule over ecigs it will be as a tobacco product. It was my branch of government that gave the FDA power over tobacco.
People with more power than you, a lowly voter have contacted us. They, your government, contacted we, your government. Now who do you really think I'm going to listen to?

I look forward to the FDA regulating ecigs. Until they do regulate them and it's too late, you have nothing to complain about. To paraphrase the first president George Bush, sit down and shut up.

BTW, please vote for me.

Now I'm looking forward to getting some replies

 

[MiamiMom63]

Yea, that letter stinks. Someone cut and pasted some info into a standard reply email to send to all of us vapers when we complain. Basically, he won't commit to doing anything at all about it. Nuf said.

 

[NorthOfAtlanta]

I read this a little different being a junior congressman, less than a year in congress, he may be asking for more information.

 

[Myk]

How good would it feel to send this reply back to them?
I'm not saying that its a great idea, but the translation is so dead on!


Now I'm looking forward to getting some replies

I sent something to Durbin once, his reply was acting like he supported what I wanted ... too bad it was the exact opposite of what I said. I just happened to write in as a response to a mail in campaign so I got lumped in with the campaign writers.

A few months later he actually supported what I actually suggested (which of course was going directly against what he told me he supported).

They don't care, they don't listen. We regular people are beneath them and until we can line their pockets that's where we will remain.

 

[Petrodus]

Click

 

[Tvan]

We're all aware of what's going on in Washington ...
Anyone really think any of our elected official gives a damn about e-cigarettes ??

To be honest I don't think they care at all. I can say they will hear how I feel about them. I would strongly encourage everyone to do the same.

Once regulations are set in place. We will have to fight and claw to get anything in return.

 

[Petrodus]

The top 2 things elected officials are concerned about.
1. Re-election
2. How much money they can get in exchange for their core values

 

[Bill Godshall]

Please note that Rep. Kilmer is a liberal Democrat, and that Democrats (especially liberal Dems) are more likely to support the Obama administration on most policy issues than are Republicans.

But at least we are now on the radar screen of many members of Congress, which is very important as this process proceeds.

Congressional staffers keep a tally of Pro and Con letters/calls they receive on many different bills and issues.

If/when the issue comes up for a hearing, vote or other action, members of Congress (just like state and local officials) consider the amount of Pro and Con letters/calls before taking a position.

 

[Pickleskunk]

The top 2 things elected officials are concerned about.
1. Re-election
2. How much money they can get in exchange for their core values

Your'e right on the money. There really needs to be a more organized effort before they will even consider opposing the FDA, unless they are really doing what they feel is right(which only what about 1% of politicians do). Gun rights, abortion rights, Immigration, Health Care, the economy are all very hot topics that have well-funded organizations on both sides. Politicians are under alot of pressure about those issues, which take away from other less-vocalized issues. Unless ALOT of money goes into pro ecigarette public education and heavy pressure on politicians, a couple thousand people emailing won't even be 1% of the noise a politician's office gets. There needs to be a major campaign with tens of millions of dollars for this effort. The establishment needs to be shaken, these are career politicians we are dealing with. Our goal, in theory should be attainable. The cause is a worthy one, in my opinion. Almost everyone knows or is a smoker, and understands the health problems that go along with that, and knows someone which has been deeply effected by smoking related illness. So I would assume persuading them to support ecigarette rights, which by all accounts is much healthier, is an attainable goal. Otherwise, we will just have to take what they allow us to have- which is usually not much.

 

[Pickleskunk]

And another thing(sorry politics gets me worked up), a simple start would be for all these companies that sell to us would be to put up a small percentage of their profit to support the cause in an organized, concerted effort, which would be beneficial to everyone. And perhaps a wise investment on their part. Ok enough rambling, I'm willing to put some of my hard-earned money up, but like everyone else, I don't have alot and have a hard time doing so when I don't think it will effect the outcome.

 

[Zumeraga]

Hi Bill, thanks for your comments. I work at a Federal Government activity (US Navy) and I'm very surprised at the number of employees here that are switching to the e-cig, or at least splitting their time between analogs and e-cigs. I've begged everyone I see to please contact their elected officials via email, phone call, letter, whatever to make their opinion known. I figure that is at least a start. And if they hear from enough of us, who knows, maybe they will remember who votes them into (and out of) office. The main thing I tell people is to keep it respectful. Can't hurt.

 

[Plumes.91]

OP's original post is very choppy. Anyone have a sum-up without comical satire?

 

[Myk]

OP's original post is very choppy. Anyone have a sum-up without comical satire?

My summation wasn't comedy.

Politician played a good game acting like he cared and had the facts. The facts he had were the propaganda facts.
He doesn't want to do anything now, wait until after the FDA issues their rulings. (I'm curious if he would send the same "wait and see" reply to people against ecigs.)

 

[Berylanna]

Please note that Rep. Kilmer is a liberal Democrat, and that Democrats (especially liberal Dems) are more likely to support the Obama administration on most policy issues than are Republicans.

But at least we are now on the radar screen of many members of Congress, which is very important as this process proceeds.

Congressional staffers keep a tally of Pro and Con letters/calls they receive on many different bills and issues.

If/when the issue comes up for a hearing, vote or other action, members of Congress (just like state and local officials) consider the amount of Pro and Con letters/calls before taking a position.

That is why I believe all correspondence with Democrats should reference Obama's inauguration and State of the Union speeches where he said his policy would be that science must trump ideology. I think he's been too busy both terms to pay attention to this issue, and I don't think that's more than 50% the Democrats' fault, but it is TIME to bring it to their attention that what Obama's secretary is doing on this issue IS contrary to his stated policies.

Unfortunately, he just recently pretty-much canonized her for her defense of Obamacare, so it will be hard for him or any Democrat to attack the Sec Health directly. So we'll need to keep emphasizing that good scientific Public Health policy is not served by putting ideology ahead of science, ESPECIALLY when the science is so clear.

And specifically if you are a, Democrats or former Democrats like me (I'm now Modern Whig) I think it is good to let them know that their handling of this is disillusioning us with the Democratic Party.

If you are not a Democrat but your rep is I'd suggest not mentioning party affiliation but emphasize the science.

I WISH WISH WISH I knew how to TRUTHFULLY point out this is a life-and-death issue for me without sounding tin-hattish. (It's NOT tin-hattish but the lying FDA and ANTZ's make it sound like it is.)

 

[Psyche]

[...]
Thank you for contacting me about the Food and Drug Administration's plan to propose regulations on electronic cigarettes. I appreciate you taking the time to write and share your thoughts with me.

Some people believe that electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) should be regulated because of the addictive nicotine in the product and minor's ability to access and misuse them. A Center for Disease Control and Prevention study [1] showed that high school students' use of e-cigarettes doubled from 2011 to 2012. Others argue that e-cigarettes help users wean off of conventional cigarettes that lead to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people every year due to diseases caused by smoking.

In Sottera, Inc v. Food and Drug Administration,the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit issued a decision that e-cigarettes can be regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The agency has indicated that it will soon propose a rule [2] that may result in additional restrictions on how e-cigarettes are made and sold.

Attorneys General from across the nation – including Washington State – sent a letter [3] to FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg, requesting that the FDA meet their October 31, 2013 deadline to propose rules to regulate marketing and ingredients, and to better restrict and limit e-cigarette sales to young people.

I look forward to reviewing the FDA's proposed rule on e-cigarettes. Once their rule is released, I would invite you to review it too. I encourage you continue to share your views with me and also share your concerns directly with the agency at Regulations.gov [...]

Thank you for reaching out. It is an honor to serve as your representative.

Sincerely,
[unknown picture]
Derek Kilmer
Member of Congress

1 - Notes from the Field: Electronic Cigarette Use Among Middle and High School Students — United States, 2011–2012
2 - Regulation of E-Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products
3- http://ag.nv.gov/uploadedFiles/agnvgov/Content/News/PR/PR_Docs/2013/E_Cigarette_Final_Letter.pdf

Ok I think that's good, edits in red in the quote.
Even copy/paste is more complicated than it need to be these days.

 

[Petrodus]

That is why I believe all correspondence with Democrats should reference Obama's inauguration and State of the Union speeches where he said his policy would be that science must trump ideology. I think he's been too busy both terms to pay attention to this issue, and I don't think that's more than 50% the Democrats' fault, but it is TIME to bring it to their attention that what Obama's secretary is doing on this issue IS contrary to his stated policies.

Unfortunately, he just recently pretty-much canonized her for her defense of Obamacare, so it will be hard for him or any Democrat to attack the Sec Health directly. So we'll need to keep emphasizing that good scientific Public Health policy is not served by putting ideology ahead of science, ESPECIALLY when the science is so clear.

And specifically if you are a, Democrats or former Democrats like me (I'm now Modern Whig) I think it is good to let them know that their handling of this is disillusioning us with the Democratic Party.

If you are not a Democrat but your rep is I'd suggest not mentioning party affiliation but emphasize the science.

I WISH WISH WISH I knew how to TRUTHFULLY point out this is a life-and-death issue for me without sounding tin-hattish. (It's NOT tin-hattish but the lying FDA and ANTZ's make it sound like it is.)

Berylanna for President !!

 

[damthisisfun]

I am impressed u got a response - emails I sent have yet to be read - lol