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Krishnamoorthi leads effort to reduce tobacco usage
The bill comes amid continued concerns over youth tobacco use in the United States.
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Raja Krishnamoorthi / File Photo
Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), along with Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Ron Wyden (D-OR), has reintroduced the End Tobacco Loopholes Act, a bill that seeks to impose new federal taxes on e-cigarettes and vaping products.
The legislation aims to close existing tax loopholes for tobacco companies, which lawmakers say have allowed certain products to be sold at lower prices, contributing to youth nicotine addiction.
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Krishnamoorthi, who has long been at the forefront of efforts to combat youth nicotine addiction, emphasized that the legislation is a critical step in preventing tobacco from targeting children.“Big Tobacco has systematically targeted Americans and their children with advertising for decades, first with cigarettes, now with e-cigarettes and vaping products,” he said.
“Unless we begin taxing e-cigarettes like other addictive products, Big Tobacco will continue to hitch future generations of Americans to a lifetime of addiction and health issues,” the congressman added.
The bill comes amid continued concerns over youth tobacco use in the United States. Despite a decline in traditional cigarette smoking, the use of e-cigarettes and vaping products remains widespread, particularly among younger individuals. Public health experts say increasing the price of these products through taxation is one of the most effective ways to reduce their use.
According to the American Lung Association, tobacco-related illnesses result in more than 490,000 deaths annually in the U.S. and cost the economy over $600 billion in health care expenses and lost productivity. Medicaid alone spends $68 billion per year on smoking-related health care costs.
As co-chair of the Congressional Caucus to End Youth Vaping, Krishnamoorthi has pushed for measures to restrict advertising and sales of e-cigarettes. In December, he launched an investigation into illicit vaping products from China, citing concerns over their marketing toward minors.
Supporters of the bill include several public health organizations. Yolonda C. Richardson, president and CEO of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, said the legislation is long overdue.
“The evidence is clear that raising tobacco prices through higher taxes is one of the most effective ways to reduce tobacco use, especially among children,” Richardson said. “Yet federal tobacco taxes have not been increased in more than 15 years.”
The American Academy of Pediatrics also backed the bill, with its president, Susan Kressly, stating that early tobacco use often leads to long-term addiction and health complications.
The End Tobacco Loopholes Act is supported by organizations including the American Lung Association, American Heart Association, Parents Against Vaping, and the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. The bill will now be considered by Congress.
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