I would like to thank Sen. Susan Collins. Sen. Collins has been a longtime advocate for the health of our children, and has always stood up against big tobacco. When I was 7 years old I lost my mother to cancer caused by smoking. It was a heartbreaking loss for my family and we still feel the effects of her absence today.

Like many others, my mother started smoking in her youth; unfortunately, she became addicted to tobacco products because of this. My mother wasn’t even 40 years old when she started to develop health issues from smoking. My mother died of her cancer before she became middle-aged. If my mother had not started smoking in her youth, if the nicotine levels in those cigarettes had been at non-addictive levels, I would still have my mother.

I don’t want others to go through the same pain that my family did. We should protect the health of Maine children at all costs. I sincerely hope that Sen. Collins will continue her efforts in supporting the future of all Maine’s children. I urge Sen. Collins to reject any policy that would weaken the FDA’s authority to regulate tobacco products. Thank you Sen. Collins for all that you have done, and all that you will do.

Bo Ouellette

China