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

WASHINGTON (Dec 19, 2019) -

American College of Cardiology President Richard J. Kovacs, MD, FACC, made the following statement on the inclusion of a Tobacco 21 provision in the Fiscal Year 2020 Domestic Priorities and International Assistance appropriations minibus (H.R. 1865) legislation passed in Congress today:

"The American College of Cardiology is celebrating a major leap forward in the fight against tobacco use among young people. In passing Tobacco 21 and raising the age to legally buy tobacco and nicotine products to 21 years old, America is finally drawing a line in the sand on this critical public health issue and protecting the well-being of our youth. Smoking is the most preventable cause of early death in the United States and the second leading cause of heart disease, yet the 2019 National Youth Tobacco Use Survey found 31.2% of high school students reported current use of a tobacco product, including e-cigarettes. The ACC stands with Congress, the House of Medicine and all stakeholders in the fight against tobacco use by utilizing all available resources to end the youth tobacco epidemic."

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 54,000 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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