Responses from Representatives....

[MMW]

So, I have emailed and called numerous reps locally and across the country. I have gotten TWO responses. TWO. I was interested in what others were getting for action/responses from anyone they've reached out to.

I just recieved this one from Sen Ron Johnson.
==================================
Dear Todd,



Thank you for contacting me about the regulations of e-cigarettes recently announced by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

One of the greatest costs to consumers and the economy comes when a regulation is so burdensome and overreaching that it threatens to wipe out an entire product or industry. The FDA’s decision to expand its own authority over e-cigarettes could threaten a whole class of businesses and the people who work at them, and it could harm public health by making it harder for consumers to buy products that serve as an alternative to smoking. The regulation forces e-cigarette manufacturers to complete prohibitively costly and time-consuming applications to sell e-cigarette products. As a result, many e-cigarette manufacturers—many of which are small businesses—could be forced to shut down.

As chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, which has broad jurisdiction over federal agencies’ operations, I am committed to holding the FDA accountable. I have sent multiple requests for information about the FDA’s e-cigarette regulation so the committee and the American public may fully understand the FDA’s rulemaking and its consequences for small businesses and the public’s health. As of July 15, 2016, the agency’s responses have been inadequate.

I asked the FDA how many e-cigarette businesses it expects will be affected by the rule. The FDA gave an inadequate response that lacked the necessary details. The FDA said it did not possess some important information about the economic effects of the rule, writing that ‘[t]he baseline number of manufacturers and importers of [e-cigarette] products is uncertain.’ Without such basic information, it is impossible for the agency to weigh costs and benefits as it is required to do.

I will continue to fight on behalf of Wisconsinites and the American people in order to get complete answers from the FDA and to ensure that the agency remains transparent in its rulemaking.



Sincerely,

Ron Johnson
United States Senator

 

[Robino1]

I have gotten back the expected canned responses. I keep emailing them and now they don't even respond back to me

bleeping

 

[Eskie]

My congressman was good about responding. My two senators didn't even have the courtesy of a canned response.

 

[sos2001]

"A Republic, if you can keep it."

-Benjamin Franklin

 

[MMW]

And back in May I recieved this response from my state, NH congresswoman Kuster.

==================================
On May 9, 2016 6:00 PM, "Ann McLane Kuster" <NH02AMIMA@mail.house.gov> wrote:

https://iqconnect.lmhostediq.com/iq...7168944&report_id=&redirect=http://house.gov/

May 9, 2016

Dear Todd,


Thank you for reaching out to me with your views regarding proposed regulations of electronic cigarettes by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under the Tobacco Control Act of 2009 (TCA). Listening to my constituents is a fundamental part of my job as it helps me to best represent you and New Hampshire’s priorities in Congress.

Thank you for sharing your positive experience with electronic cigarettes. As you know, the FDA released its proposed regulations on e-cigarettes in April of 2014. These rules would mandate that manufacturers win premarket approval for their products within two years, with the exception of those that had been grandfathered in. While traditional cigarettes were grandfathered in, electronic cigarettes were not, meaning that their manufacturers must go through the premarket approval process. Recently, several Members of Congress wrote a letter to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Sylvia Burwell, requesting that the grandfather date of February 15, 2007 (the date the TCA was introduced in Congress) be changed to April 25, 2014 (the day the FDA’s proposed regulations were announced). If the grandfather date was changed to the date proposed by these Members, e-cigarettes would essentially be grandfathered in.

I appreciate your concerns regarding limits on e-cigarettes, but also believe that our government has a responsibility to maintain prudent restrictions on the marketing and labeling of consumer products. The FDA approval process is tasked with preventing products with harmful side effects from being distributed on the open market without the proper testing. As your Representative, I also take my responsibility to oversee federal agencies very seriously and will continue to monitor the FDA’s activities to ensure it is fulfilling its mission of protecting public health without needlessly obstructing medical progress. If I have the opportunity to vote on legislation concerning the FDA’s limits on electronic cigarettes, please know that I will keep your thoughtful views in mind.

Thank you again for sharing your thoughts with me. I strive to maintain an open dialogue with the people of New Hampshire about issues important to our district. If you have any further questions or concerns, please feel free to contact my Concord office at (603) 226-1002 or my Washington, DC office at (202) 225-5206. I also encourage you to visit my website at http://Kuster.house.gov, follow me on Twitter at @RepAnnieKuster, or check out my Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/CongresswomanAnnieKuster.


Sincerely,

Ann McLane Kuster
Member of Congress

 

[mattiem]

I have gotten back the expected canned responses. I keep emailing them and now they don't even respond back to me

bleeping

Same here Robino The canned responses just repeated what we already knew and they said they would keep my concerns in mind......yea, right. I figure they trash filed them, never to be thought about again. It is just so frustrating.

 

[MMW]

The one from Senator Johnson was well thought out.

The one from my NH rep shows the response is only touching on age verification and "for the children" mindset.

 

[mattiem]

The one from Senator Johnson was well thought out.

The one from my NH rep shows the response is only touching on age verification and "for the children" mindset.

Yes it was. I am really hoping he will continue to push the fda for information.

 

[Sanctuary Denied]

I keep getting cookie cutter responses from my representatives, so I keep politely emailing them again and again.
It amazes me how vague their auto replies are, I guess they don't want to lose a vote no matter which side of the issue they're on.
I wish for once they would just say "I support your position", or "I don't", that way I knew who to support.

 

[Tommy-Chi]

I think tomorrow I'll make a call to Congressman Daniel Lapinski. I'm not really prepared for any long discussions tomorrow on the phone but I'm going to see if I can get an appointment to sit down with him some time in the future. That will give me time to get some documentation together.

Maybe I'll contact Beibert(sp) via Twitter and see if they have DVDs of the movie A Billion Lives available that I can drop off.

Through CASAA I've probably sent 10 edited emails to Representatives, Senators, etc., etc., etc.

I've personally Tweet and emailed multiple times all members of the Cook County Commissioners Office(around 10 members), and I've emailed all members of the Chicago City Council(can't recall the raw number but it was around 30 Alderman), the Mayor of the City of Chicago, Senator Dick Durbin (a tool if there ever was one), Senator Mark Kirk (another tool), the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun Times, and more.

Not many responses. I think I rcvd TWO.


RESPONSE THAT I CAN LOCATE QUICKLY

Dear Mr. "So-And-So":

Thank you for contacting me to share your views about the regulation of electronic cigarettes. I appreciate hearing from you and apologize for the delay in my response.

As you know, e-cigarettes are small devices that heat nicotine and other chemicals or flavorings into vapor instead of burning tobacco. Over the past decade, they have grown from a small niche market to a billion-dollar industry. While e-cigarettes release nicotine via heat instead of fire, they may contain many of the same chemicals and irritants as those found in traditional smoked tobacco. At the same time, some adults who continue to smoke or wish to quit smoking find that e-cigarettes have benefits over conventional cigarettes.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced plans to expand regulations under the Tobacco Control Act of 2009 to include e-cigarettes. Potential proposals 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.

At this time, the FDA is reviewing public comments on its proposal and has not released any finalized rule. You can review the comments submitted by the public by visiting www.regulations.gov (search for docket ID FDA-2014-N-0189-0001). As you may also know, Congressman Cole introduced H.R. 2058, FDA Deeming Authority Clarification Act, which would define the grandfather period for older e-cigarette products. Please know that should Congress consider legislation related to this issue, I will be certain to keep your views in mind when casting my vote.

Again, thank you for sharing your views and please do not hesitate to contact me in the future regarding this or any other matter of concern. Additionally, I invite you to visit my website at www.lipinski.house.gov or my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/repdanlipinski to learn more about my work at home and in Washington.

Sincerely,

DANIEL W. LIPINSKI
Member of Congress
DWL\JJ

 

[Eskie]

.........At this time, the FDA is reviewing public comments on its proposal and has not released any finalized rule. You can review the comments submitted by the public by visiting www.regulations.gov (search for docket ID FDA-2014-N-0189-0001). As you may also know, Congressman Cole introduced H.R. 2058, FDA Deeming Authority Clarification Act, which would define the grandfather period for older e-cigarette products. Please know that should Congress consider legislation related to this issue, I will be certain to keep your views in mind when casting my vote..........


Sincerely,

DANIEL W. LIPINSKI
Member of Congress
DWL\JJ

Huh, so those 499 pages of regulations aren't the finalized rule? Did someone tell the FDA that? Because I think they believe those are the final regs.

 

[Tommy-Chi]

Huh, so those 499 pages of regulations aren't the finalized rule? Did someone tell the FDA that? Because I think they believe those are the final regs.

I should have let you know that is not a recent email. It's from December/January. That's how far back I had to go to locate an email response even though I've been emailing them for 7 to 8 months straight.

It's all BS, they're not reading/responding to their constituents on this issue. They're arrogant fools.

 

[Eskie]

I should have let you know that is not a recent email. It's from December/January. That's how far back I had to go to locate an email response even though I've been emailing them for 7 to 8 months straight.

It's all BS, they're not reading/responding to their constituents on this issue. They're arrogant fools.

But I didn't think the Cole Bishop amendment was introduced before the Deeming regs came out in May. I could be mistaken, but why would that amendment have been introduced before the Deeming rules were even published?

 

[Tommy-Chi]

But I didn't think the Cole Bishop amendment was introduced before the Deeming regs came out in May. I could be mistaken, but why would that amendment have been introduced before the Deeming rules were even published?

My notes are incomplete. I don't have dates for the two issues.

 

[Eskie]

The one I got from my congressman (which I felt no burning desire to save) was supportive of Cole Bishop, but justified primarily for saving jobs and small businesses. No big interest about maybe saving some lives. Which is actually OK with me. I don't care what the rationale is as long as the vote is in favor of the amendment.

This is why I hate politics and politicians. No one will ever do the right thing for the right reason. They will only act if it's politically expedient for their reelection.

 

[leftyandsparky]

This is why I hate politics and politicians. No one will ever do the right thing for the right reason. They will only act if it's politically expedient for their reelection

And that is why it's called politics. If it brings them money or votes then they will talk about it. Imho

 

[Tommy-Chi]

Thank God for the leadership here on ECF. I'm speaking of everyone that came before me and told me what to do to stock up, what to buy(mods/juice/toppers) and how to DIY.

I have one heck of a problem with cigarettes, even though I'm reluctant to say that, I just did. Vaping keeps me satisfied and I will not return to smoking.

 

[Eskie]

Nothing wrong with saying your have a problem with cigarettes. I think that's true for the vast majority of folks around here. Certainly for me. I could never be a "social" smoker. Either all or none. And none only because my vape it at my side.

 

[Semiretired]

The FDA approval process is tasked with preventing products with harmful side effects from being distributed on the open market without the proper testing. As your Representative, I also take my responsibility to oversee federal agencies very seriously and will continue to monitor the FDA’s activities to ensure it is fulfilling its mission of protecting public health without needlessly obstructing medical progress.

So that's why burning cigs we're grandfathered in and are still on the market - they have no detrimental side effects???

But a product that is considered at least 95% less detrimental does have to go through the process because they have to protect us from it??? Aren't they being considerate???

 

[MMW]

Yep. My response wasn't in the same ballpark of my normal temperament.