U.S. Senate Should Not Confirm Nominee for FDA Commissioner Until the Administration Keeps Its Promise to Clear the Market of Flavored E-Cigarettes

WASHINGTON, DC – Almost three months have passed since the Trump Administration promised to clear the market of the flavored e-cigarettes that have fueled the current youth epidemic, and no action has been taken. As a nation, we are facing a public health crisis that demands immediate action. The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids urges the U.S. Senate not to confirm Dr. Stephen Hahn as the next Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) until the Trump Administration commits to implementing its plan to clear the market of all flavored e-cigarettes.

The Senate must make clear to the Administration that the health of our children comes first. We cannot afford more delays or backtracking in confronting a youth e-cigarette epidemic that is addicting a generation of kids and getting worse every day, with over 5 million kids now using e-cigarettes. The next FDA commissioner must be able to put the health of our kids before the interests of the tobacco industry and e-cigarette manufacturers.

Given the lack of action to protect kids from e-cigarettes, the Senate should not vote to confirm this nomination until the Administration makes a firm commitment to clear the market of flavored e-cigarettes. With the e-cigarette epidemic affecting millions of kids and families across the country, there is too much at stake to allow this nomination to proceed without such a commitment to protect the health our nation’s children.