Perhaps our senators share admin assistants.
I wrote a detailed account of how vaping helped me quit smoking and my feelings about how the deeming regulations will negatively impact current smokers and small businesses. One would think that my knowledge on the topic was bloody obvious.
Dear Ms. ****:
Thank you for contacting me about the regulation of tobacco products by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). I appreciate hearing from you.
Electronic cigarettes, also known as e-cigarettes, are battery-operated products designed to deliver nicotine, flavor, and other chemicals. They turn nicotine, which is highly addictive, and other chemicals into a vapor that is inhaled by the user. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, e-cigarette use among middle school and high school students has increased significantly in recent years. For instance, in 2011, only 1.5 percent of high school students reported that they had used e-cigarettes, but by 2015, that figure had increased dramatically to 16 percent.
As you may know, the FDA regulates both the safety and the effectiveness of human drugs, biologics (e.g., vaccines, blood, and blood components), medical devices, and animal drugs. As the safety and efficacy of e-cigarettes have not been fully studied, consumers of e-cigarette products currently have no way of knowing whether e-cigarettes are safe, what chemicals are in e-cigarettes, how much nicotine or other potentially harmful chemicals are being inhaled during use, or if there are any benefits associated with using these products.
In 2009, Congress passed the Family Smoking Prevention and tobacco Control Act (P.L. 111-31). This legislation gave the FDA the authority to reduce youth smoking, prevent the sale of tobacco to minors, help current smokers quit, and reduce the toxicity of tobacco products. This legislation also gave the FDA the legal authority necessary to regulate several tobacco products, including cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, and cigars. In addition, the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act includes a provision that requires new tobacco products to be approved by the FDA before they go to market. Under the law, a tobacco product is considered new if it is first introduced on the market after February 15, 2007. On May 5, 2016, the FDA published a final deeming rule that extends their authority to cover additional tobacco products, including e-cigarettes. Should you wish to learn more about the FDA’s final rule, you may visit Deeming Tobacco Products To Be Subject to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, as Amended by the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act.
I have noted your support for the FDA Deeming Authority Clarification Act (H.R. 2058). As you know, Representative Tom Cole (R-OK-4) introduced H.R. 2058 on April 28, 2015, to address the FDA’s authority to regulate e-cigarettes. This legislation is currently pending in the House of Representatives and has not been introduced in the Senate. Please be assured that I will keep your thoughts in mind should H.R. 2058 reach the full Senate for consideration.
Again, thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with me. I look forward to hearing from you in the near future.
My best wishes to you.
Sincerely,
HARRY REID
United States Senator
I didn't even get a fake signature. I wouldn't have sent an email to him, but the CASAA site sends the emails to all your state reps.
I have a healthy supply of nicotine, and starting to stock up on flavorings, but I think those will be still available. I am really nervous about what we are in for here.
