Going to show you some of the recent debate in congress and at the white house on the issue of vaping and underage use of ecigarettes. We are joined by andrew siddons, who covers health care for cq roll call. Tell us why the issue of underage vaping became a bigger issue in 2019. Andrew i think it was a combination of factors that really drove this to the front of the policy debate this year. One was just the year over year increases in the number of teens who are reporting ecigarette use. Thats been increasing for several years, but 2019, we saw another significant increase over last year. Another was interrelated, but a sort of distinct issue that we saw, starting over the summer with vaping related illnesses that were beginning to emerge, that weve now seen thousands injured and dozens dead from this. Thats related to illicit thc vaping, which is distinct from the problem of ecigarette use. But the urgency of those illnesses i think really prompted policymakers to want to respond mo
Florida, puerto rico and the u. S. Virgin islands have been devastated by hurricanes. I first want to express our heart felt sorrow for the millions of americans impacted by these devastating storms and say all members of this committee on both sides of the aisle stand with those affected by the hurricanes. I would also like to thank dr. Burgess, both members of the subcommittee who each recently visited puerto rico to assess the impact the hurricanes have had and continue to have on our fellow americans. This committee has been conducting oversight of the federal response to the recent hurricanes since shortly after harvey made landfall in texas. Unfortunately, i expect that our work here will continue for years to come. The committees jurisdiction involves not just Public Health issues but rebuilding the electrical grid, addressing environmental cleanup and restoring telecommunications to name only a few. The people of puerto rico and the u. S. Virgin islands continue to face a long
Go ahead and get its starting to i appreciate it. We are here to examine the Public Health fairness for and response to the 2017 Hurricane Season. Last two months, texas, florida, puerto rico, and the u. S. Virgin islands have been devastated by hurricanes. We first want to express our heartfelt sorrow to the millions of americans impacted by these devastating storms and to say that all members of this community on both sides of the aisle stand with those affected i these hurricanes by these hurricanes. I would like to thank the members of this subcommittee who visited puerto rico and says the impact and see the impact that these have on our americans. Has beenittee conducting oversight to the federal response to the hurricanes after harvey laid landfall. I expect our work will continue for years to come. The jurisdiction involves not just Public Health issues but also rebuilding the electrical grid, addressing environment of cleanup, and restoring telecommute occasion to name a few. T
But i do want to say that its been one of the great honors of my life to have the opportunity to serve with a man of integrity and honor and decency and commitment to not only arizona, but the United States of america. I have seen jeff flake stand up for what he believes in knowing full well that there would be a political price to pay. I have seen him stand up for his family. Ive seen him stand up for his forebearers who were the early set he he early settlers of e state of arizona. There is a place called snowflake, arizona. Obviously the flake part comes from his direct predecessor. It is the flake families and families like them that came and worked and slaved and raised families and made arizona what it is. And it has never had a more deserving son than jeff flake and his beautiful wife cheryl and children. So i would just like to say, jeff, ive known you now for a number of years. I know you have served arizona and the country, and theres one thing that im absolutely sure of and