PROTECT Act

This bill establishes the Reducing Youth Use of E-Cigarettes Initiative within the Public Health Service Act, to be carried out by the Secretary of Health and Human Services through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The initiative mandates extensive research on the use of electronic cigarettes and emerging tobacco products by youth and young adults. This research will cover various aspects, including product types, usage patterns, advertising exposure, reasons for use, nicotine dependence, and cessation behaviors, as well as the characteristics and health impacts of these products. Furthermore, the initiative requires the development of guidance for healthcare providers and schools on intervening with and treating youth users. It also focuses on identifying promising prevention and cessation strategies , including technology-delivered services, and implementing public education campaigns in coordination with the FDA and Surgeon General. The bill authorizes providing continued funding to state, local, territorial, and tribal health organizations for prevention and cessation services, including improving access through Medicaid and CHIP, with an authorization of $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031.