Age to purchase tobacco products raised, other impacts with federal spending bill

Kentucky is seeing many effects from the passing of the federal government spending bill that was signed into law by President Trump recently.

One of those includes that the age that a person can legally purchase tobacco products was raised 21 years old, instead of 18.  That includes vaping products as well, and a news release from Senator Mitch McConnell’s office says it’s in the hope that they can better protect young people from the dangers of nicotine.

The bill also secured $25 billion in funding to help fight the Asian carp infestation in Kentucky’s lake and rivers, particularly in Kentucky Lake, Lake Barkley and the Ohio River.  The carp, which are an invasive species to the area, have affected western Kentucky and other areas in numerous negative ways, including an impact to the local tourism industry, hurting other native fish and more.  Recently, officials unveiled specialized fishing methods to help cut down on carp numbers, and also deployed a ‘sound barrier’ fence in an effort to keep the fish from the waterways.

Also part of the spending bill is the Bipartisan American Miners Act of 2019, which secures funding for the 1974 miner Pension Plan to prevent its insolvency. It also expands the existing health care benefits provided under Senator McConnell’s HELP for Coal Miners Health Care Act of 2017 to the orphaned coal miners whose benefits have been put in jeopardy due to recent coal company bankruptcies.

Funding was also secured to help fight the opioid epidemic.