In this episode of Voices of Vapers, Congressman Duncan Hunter (R-CA) talks with The Heartland Institute’s state government relations manager to discuss vaping and tobacco harm reduction. Known as the “Vaping Congressman,” Congressman Duncan Hunter represents California’s 50th congressional district, which covers East and North San Diego County and a portion of Riverside County. Congressman Hunter is a former United States Marine, and has served three combat tours overseas, two in Iraq and one in Afghanistan and he the first combat veteran of either Iraq or Afghanistan to serve in the U.S. Congress.
Congressman Hunter is also a vaper and an advocate for tobacco harm reduction (THR). The congressman made headlines in 2016 when he vaped in a congressional hearing on an amendment to ban vaping on planes. Before vaping in Congress, Congressman Hunter authored an op-ed in the The Hill, where he implored the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to not restrict access to vapor products, as he believes they have saved his life, as well as millions of other smokers’ lives.
In this episode, Congressman Hunter describes his own personal journey to vaping, the flavor he’s currently vaping (Blueberry Crumb), his legislation that will separate vaping products from combustible cigarettes and place THR products on a continuum of harm, and his advice for vapers and policymakers when regulating these products.
For more information on Congressman Hunter and to see his legislation visit, hunter.house.gov or follow him on Twitter at @Rep_Hunter.