The ACC spearheaded advocacy efforts along with the American Society of Echocardiography, American Society of Nuclear Cardiology, Association of Black Cardiologists, Heart Failure Society of America, Heart Rhythm Society, Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance, Society for Vascular Medicine, Society of Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography and The Society of Thoracic Surgeons, and asked them to join us in thanking key members of Congress for introducing legislation – the Tobacco Free Youth Act and the Tobacco to 21 Act – aimed at reducing tobacco use in the U.S.

In a letter to Sen. Brian Schatz and Rep. Diana DeGette regarding the Tobacco to 21 Act, the societies highlight the important role the legislation can play in helping prevent chronic disease and protect public health by restricting youth access to tobacco products. "We wholeheartedly support reducing youth access to tobacco products and believe the Tobacco to 21 Act is in line with this shared goal of all cardiovascular societies," the letter says.

Young adults are most vulnerable to social and environmental influences. The U.S. Surgeon General reports that 99 percent of smokers begin using tobacco by their mid-20s. It is also estimated that 1 in 5 high school students and 1 in 20 middle school students use e-cigarettes. In a letter to Sen. Mitch McConnell and Sen. Tim Kaine, the ACC and other cardiovascular societies thank the senators for their leadership in introducing the Tobacco-Free Youth Act and highlight the Act's potential to help prevent chronic disease and protect public health by restricting youth access to tobacco products.

Read both letters:

• Tobacco to 21 Act Joint Society Letter
• Tobacco-Free Youth Act Joint Society Letter

Keywords: Adolescent, Tobacco, Public Health, Smoking, Angiography, Echocardiography, Tobacco Use, Heart Failure, Chronic Disease, Surgeons, Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy, Tomography, ACC Advocacy

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