Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi Invites Ruby Johnson, Advocate for Parents Against Vaping E-Cigarettes Illinois, As His Guest To The State Of The Union

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08) announced today that the Parents Against Vaping E-Cigarettes (PAVe) Illinois advocate, Ruby Johnson, will join him as his guest at the State of the Union in Washington, DC, February 4, 2020. Ruby Johnson is the mother of a college-aged student who was hospitalized last summer for severe respiratory problems linked to vaping products. Rep. Krishnamoorthi invited Ruby to highlight her story and the story of families across Illinois and the nation who have felt the devastating impact of the youth vaping epidemic.

Ruby previously testified before Chairman Krishnamoorthi's Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy on the harm of e-cigarettes usage for American youth and their families. She also participated in the launch of the bipartisan and bicameral Congressional Caucus to End the Youth Vaping Epidemic with co-chairs Rep. Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Rep. Peter King (R-NY), and Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL).

"In the wake of her daughter's illness, Ruby became a champion for families across the country that are suffering from the youth vaping epidemic," said Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL). "Our children are not for sale, and that is why I will have Ruby alongside me at the State of the Union as we continue to fight this public health crisis together. Ruby's presence as a mother and advocate who has worked with both Republicans and Democrats on this issue will be felt by those in attendance on Tuesday."

"I am honored to attend The State of the Union as a guest of Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi. As an Illinois native, mom of 7, and the Illinois representative of Parents Against Vaping E-cigarettes (PAVe), I am grateful to Congressman Krishnamoorthi for his bold leadership in the fight against the youth vaping epidemic, the most serious adolescent public-health crisis our country has faced in decades – and something that has personally affected our family. As Chairman of the House Oversight Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy, Congressman Krishnamoorthi has repeatedly used his authority to publicly expose the predatory practices of Big Tobacco companies like JUUL that have targeted teens with slick social-media marketing and kid-friendly flavors to create a new generation of nicotine addicts," said Ruby Johnson. "We know that according to the latest figures, there are more than 5 million youth currently vaping on a regular basis – a 135% increase over the last two years. But my Illinois family, along with millions of others in our state and country have a tireless advocate in Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, who will continue to do everything he can to protect our children from the dangers of flavored e-cigarettes."

Rep. Krishnamoorthi has led a fulsome investigation through the House Committee on Oversight and Reform into skyrocketing youth e-cigarette use, illegal marketing practices deployed by Big Tobacco, and the lack of regulatory action to combat youth vaping. He also introduced two legislative fixes that would address this crisis head on. Below is a timeline of both the investigative and legislative actions taken by the Congressman:

• Introduced the PREVENT Act – December 12^th, 2019
• Hearing with FDA Director of Tobacco, Mitch Zeller – December 3^rd, 2019
• Introduced the ENDS ENDs Act – October 7^th, 2019
• Hearing with CDC, Anne Schuchat – September 24^th, 2019
• Krishnamoorthi, King and Durbin launch End Youth Vaping caucus – September 19^th, 2019
• HHS announces e-cigarette flavor ban, citing investigation – September 11^th, 2019
• FDA warns JUUL Labs for marketing targeting youth, citing hearing – September 9^th, 2019
• Hearing with JUUL Co-Founder, James Monsees – July 25^th, 2019

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