NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Earlier this week, U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut introduced legislation that would eliminate what she calls a “distressing loophole in federal law” that allows underage smokers to purchase e-cigarette products without verifying their age, when ordered online or by phone.

In an announcement at a Boys and Girls Club in New Haven, DeLauro called for limiting minors’ access to e-cigarettes through a new bill, the “Stop Tobacco Sales to Youth Act of 2015.” Co-sponsored by fellow Connecticut Representative Elizabeth Esty, the legislation would require every state to prohibit the sale of e-cigarettes to minors and require proof of age at purchase and delivery for all online or telephone sales.

As part of her announcement, DeLauro cited a North Carolina study in which only 5 out of 98 14- to 17-year-olds who attempted to purchase e-cigarettes online were rejected based on their age.

In March 2014, NACS issued a statement of position on sales of e-cigarettes, including policies stating that retailers should, as a best practice, follow the same applicable federal, state and local laws for verifying the age of purchasers of tobacco and apply these standards for the sale of e-cigarettes.

“NACS believes that all vendors, be they brick and mortar or remote, should treat e-cigarette transactions as tobacco transactions and verify that customers are of legal age prior to completing a transaction,” affirmed NACS Senior Vice President of Government Relations Lyle Beckwith.