Feinstein, Cornyn Bill to Prevent Online E-Cigarette Sales to Minors Passes Congress 

On December 21, 2020, Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) announced the passage of The Preventing Online Sales of E-Cigarettes to Children Act (S.1253), legislation to prevent online sales of electronic cigarettes to minors. The bill applies the same safeguards already in place for traditional cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products, and was included as part of the omnibus federal spending bill for fiscal year 2021. The bill requires online e-cigarette retailers to 1) verify the age of customers for all purchases, 2) require an adult with ID to be present for delivery, 3) label shipping packages to show they contain tobacco products, and 4) comply with all state and local tobacco tax requirements.

To read the full press release, please click here
To read the statement of support from American Lung Association President and CEO Harold Wimmer, please click here.
Brownsville Area School District Joins Lawsuit Against Juul

The Brownsville Area School District has joined a class-action lawsuit against the electronic cigarette maker Juul. The lawsuit alleges the company targets school-aged children and has dramatically increased the use of e-cigarettes among Brownsville students. The Brownsville Area School District spans parts of Fayette County and Washington County. Several other Pennsylvania school districts are also part of the lawsuit, including Pittsburgh Public Schools, North Hills, McKeesport, and Butler. 

To read the full article, please click here.
FDA Launches Student Magazine & Art Contest Encouraging Middle & High School Students Not to Vape

As part of an ongoing collaboration to inform youth, parents, and teachers about the dangers of youth e-cigarette use, the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and Scholastic launched a student magazine with an accompanying teacher guide, blog post, and supplementary educational resources, as well as an art contest for students. The “Vaping’s Not My Thing” Student Challenge asks students in grades 6-12 to submit posters or other illustrations that aim to convince teens not to vape because of the health risks of vaping. According to Mitch Zeller, J.D., Director of the FDA's Center for Tobacco Products, “public education has been a fundamental effort to protect youth since the FDA launched its first tobacco prevention campaign seven years ago. It is an important complement to our overarching efforts to ensure all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, aren’t being marketed to, sold to, or used by kids.”

To continue reading, please click here.
Systemic Forces that Perpetuate Tobacco Use: Clinical Report

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) in a new report recognizes the structural forces perpetuating tobacco use and urges pediatricians to view tobacco as a social determinant for children’s health, providing guidance on how to identify and provide support to family members who use tobacco products. The AAP recommends that pediatricians screen adolescents for tobacco use and provide resources and treatment for tobacco dependence. The health care provider is also encouraged to systematically screen children for secondhand smoke exposure and support family members who smoke with tobacco cessation. Although many view tobacco use as solely a personal choice, the AAP clinical report details systemic forces that contribute to tobacco use and dependence, including deliberate targeting of groups by the tobacco industry, lack of enforcement of age-for-sale laws, inferior access to health insurance and health care, poor access to cessation resources, and economic stress.

To read the full article, please click here.
Upcoming Events
Asthma Guidelines Updates: A 360 Perspective
Join the American Lung Association and our expert speakers to learn more about the newly released NHLBI Expert Panel Report-3: 2020 Focused Updates to the Asthma Management Guidelines. This webcast is ideal for all parties including healthcare professionals, providers, public health, patients, caregivers & the general public. Expert speakers will provide an overview of the guidelines, updates, & new recommendations for care. They will also help launch the Lung Association’s initiative to take a deeper dive and a 360-degree perspective review on translating the new recommendations into practice.

Wednesday, January 14, 2021
11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. CT

Register at Lung.org/asthma
Save the Date: Day at the Capitol 2021
This year’s Day at the Capitol event will take place virtually to ensure advocates across Pennsylvania can safely come together and meet with legislators to provide education on important tobacco control issues throughout the commonwealth.

Please mark your calendars and share with community partners.

If you have questions, please contact Molly Pisciottano at Molly.Pisciottano@Lung.org.

Date: Tuesday, May 4, 2021
Location: Online
Email Lauren.Chappel@Lung.org to feature news in your region!
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