Considering the Proposed Menthol Ban

Floor Speech

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Mr. EZELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express deep concern regarding the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)'s decision to ban the sale of menthol cigarettes. If the Administration continues with this proposal, it must work with the appropriate law enforcement agencies to mitigate the potential increase in illicit cross-border activities related to menthol cigarette smuggling.

While I acknowledge the negative health effects of cigarettes, the consequences of opening an illicit market could be detrimental. As a career law enforcement officer, I have seen the effect of imposing federal bans on contraband firsthand. Mandates such as this encourages terrorist and cartel organizations to smuggle cigarettes across our wide-open southern border. With the increasing influx of drugs, including fentanyl and narcotics, already coming across our border and the number of cartels reportedly expanding operations to include cigarette smuggling, our nation cannot afford to give terrorist and cartels another revenue stream to terrorize our communities.

As the Administration looks to finalize this rule, I urge the administration to consider all the consequences of this rule and take steps to lessen the risks associated with this ban.

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