Congressman Raja Invites CDC Testimony on Vaping-Linked Illnesses

WASHINGTON, DC – Yesterday, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, Chairman of the Oversight Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy, invited Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Robert Redfield to testify before the panel on the outbreak of lung illnesses associated with using vaping devices and e-cigarettes.

The hearing with the CDC, currently scheduled for September 24th, marks the next step in Congressman Krishnamoorthi’s investigation into vaping on which he led hearings on July 24th and July 25th with health experts and advocates as well as the co-founder of leading e-cigarette maker JUUL Labs.

These hearings led the FDA to issue a warning letter to JUUL Labs, Inc. regarding its illegal practices three days after Chairman Krishnamoorthi urged the FDA to evaluate admissions and statements made by JUUL representatives under oath during a hearing before the Subcommittee. The FDA’s warning letter repeatedly cited the relevant testimony provided by the Subcommittee in their rebuke of JUUL Labs.

Chairman Krishnamoorthi’s invitation letter is viewable here and he issued the following statement:

“In response to the national outbreak of illnesses and fatalities from vaping and e-cigarette use, I have asked the CDC to testify before the Oversight Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy about the warning it issued urging Americans to refrain from using any electronic cigarettes or vaping devices until there is more conclusive evidence of the cause of these illnesses. Just today, a sixth vaping-related death was reported. At our hearing scheduled for September 24th, I look forward to learning from our nation’s preeminent public health institution on the potential causes of this outbreak and what must be done to end it.”