The ACC joined with six other medical specialty societies this week in a letter to Sens. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Patty Murray (D-WA) thanking them for their efforts to work with Sens. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) to further strengthen the Tobacco-Free Youth Act. Specifically, the letter supports updates to two sections of the legislation that would increase the federal age of sale to 21 for all tobacco products without requiring states to pass laws that could jeopardize state and local public health protections against tobacco use or put state substance abuse funding at risk. "Our organizations greatly appreciate this compromise, as well as the addition of a grant program that will help states transition to the new federal minimum age of sale," the letter states.

In other tobacco news, Texas and Connecticut have joined the growing list of states, local governments and the District of Columbia, that have officially adopted Tobacco 21 laws. Legislation in New York is awaiting the governor's signature. ACC's New England Chapter Governor Daniel M. Philbin Jr., MD, FACC, is leading a coalition to ensure that legislation is passed in New Hampshire as well. San Francisco also made news this week by becoming the first major U.S. city to ban the sale and distribution of e-cigarettes. The new ordinance would suspend the sale and distribution of e-cigarettes in the city until the U.S. Food and Drug Administration grants them approval.

Clinical Topics: Cardiovascular Care Team, Congenital Heart Disease and Pediatric Cardiology, Prevention, CHD and Pediatrics and Prevention, Smoking

Keywords: ACC Advocacy, Adolescent, Tobacco, United States Food and Drug Administration, San Francisco, District of Columbia, Connecticut, New Hampshire, New York, Public Health, Texas, Local Government, Tobacco Products, Muscle Hypotonia, Hypospadias, Abnormalities, Multiple, Tobacco Use, Substance-Related Disorders, New England

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