LIBERTYVILLE, Ill. – State Rep. Mary Edly-Allen. D-Libertyville, partnered with local law enforcement and healthcare experts to host an informational town hall meeting on the dangers of vaping devices and e-cigarettes.

“As a former teacher, education and protecting the health of our youth is extremely important to me,” said Edly-Allen. “This town hall meeting on the dangers of vaping gave families and parents an opportunity to learn from the experts and understand the increase in vaping and its potential side effects.”

Edly-Allen’s town hall meeting featured expert panelists including Lake County State’s Attorney Michael Nerheim, Mundelein Chief of Police Eric Guenther, and representatives from the Respiratory Health Association and Lake County Public Health Department. Edly-Allen intends to support legislation to increase regulations on vaping devices, which have come under scrutiny lately for their ties to respiratory illnesses in young people.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Amid increasing reports of vaping-related illnesses and deaths, state Rep. Daniel Didech, D-Buffalo Grove, is doubling-down on his efforts to take on the tobacco industry and backing a ban on the sale and distribution of flavored tobacco products.

“It is absolutely devastating to see the growing cases of vaping-related illnesses and deaths across the country,” Didech said, “This bill would help us fight the tobacco industry’s shameful marketing of dangerous products to minors.”

Didech is a sponsor of House Bill 3883, the Flavored Tobacco Ban Act, which would prohibit the sale or distribution of all flavored tobacco products, including commonly used with vapes and e-cigarettes. In Addition, the legislation would allow the Department of Public Health to suspend the license of any distributor that violates the ban. While the use of vaping and e-cigarettes has seen an overall increase in recent years on the national scale, there has been a particularly sharp increase among American youth. When someone is hooked on nicotine at a young age, it becomes significantly harder to quit later on in life.

Earlier this year, Didech voted to pass House Bill 345, which prohibits the sale of tobacco products, alternative nicotine products, and electronic cigarettes to people under the age of 21. Across the nation, six additional states have followed suit, including California, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Oregon, Hawaii, and Maine.

“Tobacco companies know they can prey on young people through their clever advertising tactics and attractive flavor selections,” Didech said. “By supporting this strong measure, we can protect the lives and health of all Illinoisans, especially minors, who could be drawn in by manipulative advertising and tobacco products geared towards children.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill – In response to recent reports of vaping-related hospitalizations around
Illinois, state Rep. Sam Yingling, D-Grayslake, is cracking down on flavored tobacco products
by supporting legislation that would prohibit the sale or distribution of these products.

“Many of these products use candy flavors and deceptive advertising to hook our teens on
nicotine,” Yingling said. “Protecting our youth must be a top priority, and my hope is that this
legislation will ignite a serious conversation about the dangers of today’s flavored tobacco
products.”

Yingling is backing House Bill 3883, which prohibits the sale or distribution of any flavored
tobacco product. Of the over 200 cases of vaping-related hospitalizations across the nation,
almost 20 percent of those cases occurred in Illinois, including cases in Cook, Dupage, Kane,
Lake, McHenry, Will, Champaign, Madison, Peoria, and St. Clair counties. Last week, an Illinois
resident passed away due to an upper respiratory illness linked to vaping. Yingling’s legislation
follows the declaration of Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to make her state the first to ban
flavored electronic cigarettes.

“The deadly impact that e-cigarettes are having on the residents of our state is a clear indication
that these products should be banned,” Yingling said. “I look forward to working with my
colleagues to ensure our children do not have access to these products and that they are informed
about the consequences of using them.”

DES PLAINES, Ill. – Alarmed at reports of linking vaping to breathing issues and deaths, state Rep. Marty Moylan, D-Des Plaines, has sponsored legislation to ban flavored tobacco products, such as vapes and e-cigarettes, from being sold, bought and distributed in the state of Illinois.

“As we are seeing now, these flavored tobacco products are becoming a huge problem among our children and young adults,” said Moylan. “All this vaping is proving to be real dangerous and these tobacco and vape companies are targeting kids with all the different candy-like flavors they offer.”

So far, at least six people have died from vaping-related lung complications, the first being reported in Illinois. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have also recently reported that as many as 450 cases of serious lung disease have been linked to e-cigarette use, or vaping.  

In response, Moylan has sponsored an initiative to ban all flavored tobacco products in Illinois. House Bill 3883, which was filed late last week, will ban all sales and distribution of flavored tobacco products such as vapes and e-cigarettes. 

“We need to think about the children, and how we need to protect them from falling victim to big tobacco’s sales tactics,” said Moylan. “Too many innocent young individuals are dying or becoming sick due to these dangerous smoking products, we must protect and save our kids.”

For more information about House Bill 3883, or any questions or concerns relating this issue, please contact Moylan’s full-time constituent office at 847-635-6821 or email StateRepMoylan@gmail.com.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A piece of legislation sponsored by state Rep. Karina Villa, D-West Chicago, to raise the minimum age to buy tobacco products to 21 years old became law on July 1.

“Many smokers pick up the habit as teens because the tobacco industry specifically targets them with their predatory marketing tactics, knowing that teenagers are more vulnerable to the addictive properties of nicotine,” said Villa. “I am thankful to see this legislation become law, as raising the minimum age to purchase tobacco products is critical to help protect young people from a lifetime of dependency.”    

Villa sponsored House Bill 345, also known as Tobacco 21, which increased the age to buy cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and other alternative tobacco products from 18 to 21 years old.

“Smoking is a public health issue. I fought for Tobacco 21 to put Illinois in line with other states that have raised the minimum age to purchase tobacco products and address the smoking public health epidemic,” continued Villa. “By keeping cigarettes and other tobacco products out of the hands of teenagers, we will be protecting them from lifelong addiction, a multitude of health problems, and ultimately a shorter life expectancy.”

The American Cancer Society has released research showing that smoking and other tobacco use shortens the lives of users by over a decade, and 9 out 10 people started using tobacco products before the age of 18.

“Tobacco 21 is an important tool to get tobacco out of our schools and end the cycle of addiction to nicotine and tobacco,” said Joel Africk, President and CEO of Respiratory Health Association. “Thank you to Rep. Villa for cosponsoring this legislation and putting the health and well-being of young people first.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Marty Moylan, D-Des Plaines, recently sponsored and supported legislation raising the legal age to buy all tobacco products, including popular e-cigarettes, from 18 to 21.

“Raising the age to buy tobacco products is critical to reducing smoking rates,” said Moylan. “Most adult smokers started when they were teenagers, getting cigarettes or chewing tobacco from older friends or family members. We must stem the tide, especially with the rise of e-cigarettes.”

The Moylan-backed House Bill 345 prohibits anyone younger than 21 from purchasing all tobacco products, which includes traditional cigarettes, electronic cigarettes and smokeless chewing tobacco. A growing number of cities and counties in Illinois have already raised the tobacco age to 21, and Moylan previously supported similar legislation last year that was vetoed by former Gov. Bruce Rauner. Health advocates praised Moylan’s support the measure.

“I want to thank Rep. Moylan for putting the health and well-being of young people first,” said Matt Maloney, director of health policy for Respiratory Health Association. “There are seven states that have Tobacco 21 laws in place, and Illinois is one step closer to becoming the eighth. It is my hope that the Illinois Senate will also pass this measure with vast bipartisan support.”