Contact: Katie Glenn, kglenn@acc.org, 202-375-6472

WASHINGTON (May 21, 2019) -

American College of Cardiology President Richard Kovacs, MD, FACC, made the following statement on the Tobacco-Free Youth Act of 2019, introduced yesterday by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-K.Y.) and Senator Tim Kaine (D-V.A.):

"The American College of Cardiology is committed to reducing youth tobacco usage. It is common knowledge that tobacco has long been associated with heart disease and is responsible for an estimated 6 million deaths a year. We believe it is also important to remember that while there are plenty of data on the impact of conventional cigarettes, the public health, policy-making and scientific communities are still determining the safety and efficacy of e-cigarettes—the use of which is growing rapidly among America's youth. The Tobacco-Free Youth Act of 2019 will help prevent chronic disease and protect public health by restricting youth access to all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes.

On behalf of our patients, ACC members thank the Senators for their efforts to reduce youth tobacco use and stand ready to partner with them—and other members of Congress—to enact strong legislation establishing a federal age of 21 for the sale of all tobacco products."

The American College of Cardiology envisions a world where innovation and knowledge optimize cardiovascular care and outcomes. As the professional home for the entire cardiovascular care team, the mission of the College and its more than 52,000 members is to transform cardiovascular care and to improve heart health. The ACC bestows credentials upon cardiovascular professionals who meet stringent qualifications and leads in the formation of health policy, standards and guidelines. The College also provides professional medical education, disseminates cardiovascular research through its world-renowned JACC Journals, operates national registries to measure and improve care, and offers cardiovascular accreditation to hospitals and institutions. For more, visit acc.org.

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