Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) and Congresswoman Celeste Maloy (R-UT), co-chairs of the bipartisan Caucus to End Youth Vaping, have called on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to strengthen enforcement efforts against illegal e-cigarette products that are driving youth nicotine addiction.

In a letter addressed to FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary, the lawmakers highlighted the alarming availability of more than 6,000 flavored e-cigarettes, many of which are marketed toward children and teenagers, despite the FDA authorizing the sale of only 34 such products. The letter was referenced in a statement issued by Congressman Krishnamoorthi’s office on July 9, 2025.

“These products come in a large variety of youth-appealing flavors, such as pink lemonade, cotton candy, and bubblegum,” the lawmakers wrote, citing research that shows 87.6 percent of youth users reported using flavored products and 70.3 percent identified flavors as a key reason for vaping. “Some of the latest e-cigarette products now have built-in video games and smartphone-like features…allowing kids to play video games, send text messages, and use social media.”

President and CEO of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, Yolonda C. Richardson, voiced support for the lawmakers’ call to action. 

“We applaud Reps. Krishnamoorthi and Maloy and their colleagues for their leadership in urging the FDA to prioritize efforts to continue reducing youth use of e-cigarettes and other tobacco products,” Richardson said. “We join them in calling on the FDA and other federal agencies to utilize all tools at their disposal to prevent youth tobacco use, including enforcement actions to prevent illegal e-cigarettes from being imported, distributed, and sold in the United States.”

In their letter, the legislators emphasized the scope of the crisis, pointing to aggressive marketing tactics and high nicotine content in products designed to appeal to young users. In 2024 alone, more than 1.6 million youth—including nearly 8 percent of high school students—used e-cigarettes. Alarmingly, 42 percent of those high school users reported frequent or daily use.

The lawmakers also raised concerns over recent layoffs at the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products, cautioning that staff reductions may hinder the agency’s ability to effectively crack down on illegal e-cigarettes. “The lack of enforcement opens the door for Big Tobacco to shackle more young people to addiction and the numerous health hazards and chronic diseases that come along with it, such as cancer, heart disease, and stroke,” the statement warned.

Reps. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Mike Kennedy (R-UT), Lauren Underwood (D-IL), Burgess Owens (R-UT), and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) also co-signed the bipartisan letter.

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