Emily Stack, executive director of Moms for America Action, is sounding the alarm over what she says is a flood of illegal Chinese-made vaping products targeting American children.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nationally, 7.8% of high schoolers and 3.5% of middle schoolers currently vape, with over 80% of those products estimated to be illegal and roughly 90% manufactured in China.
Due to the booming illicit vape trade, Stack said China is profiting “off our communities, off our children.”
“The more you dig into it you kind of end up shocked with the amount of illegal vapes there are in the U.S.,” Stack told DC News Line.
Stack said the issue first came to the attention of Moms for America Action after she was approached by a mother.
“I was actually at an event and a mom had come up to us,” Stack said. “They heard us talk about another issue on a panel and she said, ‘are you guys familiar with what’s going on in our communities with these things?’ And I was like ‘no, we’re not aware.’”
According to Stack, other parents have contacted Moms for America Action with stories about children suffering health complications linked to unregulated vape devices.
“We actually have a mom in Florida reach out to say that she had a nephew that had gotten a hold of a vape and come to find out it was not an FDA-approved and they had some serious breathing issues as a result,” Stack said.
Moms for America Action argues that Chinese-manufactured and black market vapes are fueling youth nicotine addiction while harming American children and generating massive profits.
“These things look more fun and more childlike,” Stack said. “Parents should be on the lookout that they might not be looking for just a normal vape. They might be looking at something that doesn’t even look like a vape.”
She warned that many illegal vaping products are deliberately designed to appeal to children.
“It’s gonna look like a video game. Some of them have fun flavors, like birthday cake, that look more fun and more childlike,” Stack said. “Parents need to be aware of this situation and should be on the lookout.”
Stack said the organization has seen increasing public engagement as it raises awareness about the issue.
The group also has an active petition calling for tougher enforcement against illegal, high-nicotine disposable vapes being marketed to children in the United States.
The petition, titled “Stop Illegal Vapes from Targeting Our Kids,” warns that the products “often contain extremely high nicotine levels,” adding that “these unregulated disposables contain toxic metals and way more nicotine than allowed – poisoning kids and adults alike” and that “many of these products are not authorized by the FDA and are entering the U.S. illegally.”
The group’s petition urges federal and state officials to “crack down on illegal vape imports,” “enforce laws against unauthorized products,” and “protect children from dangerous high-nicotine disposable vapes.”
“Every time we put it out there, we get more attention on the petition,” Stack said.
Stack encouraged parents to continue educating themselves and speaking with lawmakers about the dangers posed by illegal vaping products.
“We appreciate when people do sign the petition so we can take it to legislators and say ‘hey this is a rising concern for our parents and we want them to take it into consideration,’” Stack said.
Stack, whose comments came just after President Donald Trump returned from a visit to China, frames the issue as both a public health and national security concern, arguing that billions of dollars tied to the vaping industry are flowing to China, with implications that extend beyond public health into national security.
“I think that’s a pretty big national security concern, considering (China) also uses (the profits) for their infrastructure,” she said. “So yeah, it’s not just a health concern. It’s also a national security concern.”
In statements published by the Washington Examiner prior to Trump’s May 13 trip, Stack and Moms for America Action urged the president to confront Chinese President Xi Jinping over vaping products during diplomatic talks between the two leaders.
Moms for America Action’s advocacy campaign comes amid broader scrutiny of the vaping industry and Chinese vape manufacturers.
Just over a month ago U.S. Rep. Brad Knott (R-N.C.) accused networks tied to the Chinese Communist Party of flooding the U.S. market with counterfeit vaping products and cited the Vapor Technology Association (VTA), led by Northbrook, Illinois-based lobbyist Tony Abboud, in his broader concerns about foreign influence.
Abboud serves on a committee within the China Electronics Chamber of Commerce and has been cited by critics as having links to the Chinese Communist Party.
While Abboud has a background in Democratic politics, including work for former Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn, he has more recently supported Republican-aligned efforts, including fundraising for Trump’s 2024 reelection campaign.
The VTA has also reportedly lobbied against state regulations targeting Chinese vape companies and has urged the Trump administration to support the flavored vaping industry.
Meanwhile, Stack is calling for stronger enforcement at both the federal and state levels, pointing to federal funds intended to support FDA enforcement and crackdowns on illegal vape imports.
“We need those funds to be released,” Stack said.
She also advocated for state-level vaping registries that would help law enforcement, distributors and parents identify unauthorized products.
