> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.fdaweb.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Act on Vaping or Resign, Durbin Tells Sharpless
- URL: https://www.fdaweb.com/act-on-vaping-or-resign-durbin-tells-sharpless/
- Published: 2019-09-09T12:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-15T01:48:38.000Z
- Author: David McFarland
- Tags: FDA Policy/General, #legacy-id-D5144943

Senator **Richard Durbin** (D-IL) has written FDA acting commissioner **Ned Sharpless** urging him to take immediate and decisive action to curb the e-cigarette and vaping epidemic that threatens young adults and children in the U.S. or resign. In a [9/6 letter](https://www.durbin.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/RJD%20Letter%20to%20FDA%20Act%20Comm%20Sharpless%20re%20vaping%20illnesses%20and%20deaths%209.6.19.pdf?ref=fdaweb.com), Durbin said that as acting commissioner, Sharpless has the “power to stop this vaping epidemic, which has now reached the point where children and young adults are getting sick and dying. It is my strong belief that, if you do not take decisive action within the next 10 days, you should resign your post. If you continue to refuse to do your job — which is to protect the public health — then it is time to allow someone else to take the helm.”

Specific actions Durbin asked Sharpless to take include:

- sending a letter to schools warning about vaping’s health-related consequences;
- immediately banning all e-cigarette flavors other than tobacco; and
- banning all e-cigarette devices that are not approved by FDA

Additionally, Durbin asked that Sharpless and Center for Tobacco Products director Mitch Zeller (XXX BOLD XXX)schedule immediately a Senate briefing on the steps the agency is taking to address the epidemic.