Suozzi Proposes Bill Targeting Vaping And Smoking

LONG ISLAND, NY — Congressman Tom Suozzi proposed a new bill targeted at vaping and smoking, his office stated on Thursday.

The legislation is called the Quell Underage Inhaling of Toxic Substances (QUITS) Act, and has garnered bi-partisan support, as the lead Republican sponsor is Congressman Peter King. The QUITS Act would:

• Ban flavored e-cigarettes and other flavored tobacco products
• Increase the federal tax on cigarettes from $1 per pack to $3 per pack
• Create a tax on e-cigarette products equivalent to $3 per pack
• Increase annual funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s Office on Smoking and Health from $210 million to $500 million

"Since I served as Nassau County Executive, I have worked to address the fact that smoking is the number one cause of preventable deaths," Suozzi stated. "I’ve been increasingly concerned by the number of teenagers who use and are becoming addicted to e-cigarettes. I’ve become even more disturbed in recent weeks since we’ve learned that hundreds of people have contracted a mysterious vaping-related lung disease that has killed at least seven people. That is why I am introducing the QUITS Act, which will discourage people from smoking and vaping and get toxic tobacco products out of the hands of young people."

According to the New York State Department of Health, 27 percent of all high school students use e-cigarettes, and nearly 40 percent of all high school seniors use them.

"Too often our children and adolescents are being exposed to the dangers of nicotine addiction," stated King. "It is imperative that Congress explore means to end this epidemic and ensure the well-being of our youth. I am proud to work with Rep. Suozzi in this effort."

The bipartisan QUITS ACT is supported by a number of public health advocacy groups including:

• Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids
• American Heart Association
• American Lung Association
• American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
• Parents Against Vaping e-Cigarettes
• Action on Smoking & Health