[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 407 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 407

  Expressing support for designation of May as ``National Asthma and 
                       Allergy Awareness Month''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 6, 2009

   Ms. Castor of Florida (for herself, Mr. Kennedy, Ms. Berkley, Ms. 
  Baldwin, Mr. Grijalva, Ms. Shea-Porter, Mr. Hinchey, Mr. Bishop of 
   Georgia, Mr. McDermott, and Ms. Bordallo) submitted the following 
 resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Expressing support for designation of May as ``National Asthma and 
                       Allergy Awareness Month''.

Whereas allergies are among the most common and overlooked diseases in the 
        United States;
Whereas an estimated 50,000,000 or 1 in 5 Americans suffer from all types of 
        allergies;
Whereas approximately 2,200,000 million school-aged children have food allergy 
        and the number of American children under 5 years of age with peanut 
        allergy doubled between 1999 and 2004;
Whereas the prevalence of allergies has consistently increased since the early 
        1980s in the United States across all age, sex, and racial groups;
Whereas allergies are the most frequently reported chronic condition in 
        children, the third most common chronic disease among children under the 
        age of 18, and the third-ranking cause of hospitalizations for children;
Whereas 4,000 people die each year from asthma-related causes, and asthma is a 
        contributing factor in another 7,000 deaths every year;
Whereas many allergic reactions are severe enough to cause death;
Whereas it is estimated that the cost of allergies is nearly $7,000,000,000 each 
        year;
Whereas an estimated 20,000,000 or 1 in 15 Americans suffer from asthma, and 50 
        percent of asthma cases are ``allergic-asthma'';
Whereas, due to asthma, each day in America 40,000 people miss school or work, 
        30,000 people have an attack, 5,000 people visit the emergency room, 
        1,000 people are admitted to the hospital, and 11 people die;
Whereas asthma is the most common chronic condition among children, affecting 
        more than 1 of every 20 children;
Whereas asthma is more common among children (7 to 10 percent) than adults (3 to 
        5 percent);
Whereas nearly 5,000,000 asthma sufferers are under the age of 18;
Whereas ethnic differences in asthma prevalence, morbidity, and mortality are 
        highly correlated with poverty, urban air quality, indoor allergens, 
        lack of patient education, and inadequate medical care;
Whereas asthma accounts for one-quarter of all emergency room visits in the 
        United States each year, with 2,000,000 emergency room visits;
Whereas each year, asthma accounts for more than 10,000,000 outpatient visits 
        and 500,000 hospitalizations;
Whereas 44 percent of all asthma hospitalizations are for children;
Whereas asthma is the third-ranking cause of hospitalization among children 
        under the age of 15;
Whereas among children ages 5 to 17, asthma is the leading cause of school 
        absences from a chronic illness;
Whereas asthma accounts for an annual loss of more than 12,800,000 school days 
        per year, which is approximately 8 days for each student with asthma, 
        and it is estimated that children with asthma spend nearly 8,000,000 
        days per year restricted to bed;
Whereas the annual cost of asthma is estimated to be nearly $19,700,000,000;
Whereas the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America first declared ``National 
        Asthma and Allergy Awareness Week'' 25 years ago in May 1984;   
Whereas each year, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America declares May as 
        ``National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month''; and
Whereas the month of May 2009 would be an appropriate month to designate a 
        ``National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month'': Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the goals and ideals of ``National Asthma and 
        Allergy Awareness Month'';
            (2) supports the designation of a ``National Asthma and 
        Allergy Awareness Month'';
            (3) encourages local communities to raise awareness 
        surrounding the prevalence of asthma and allergies;
            (4) encourages awareness about disparities in asthma cases 
        based on race, ethnicity, and economic status;
            (5) recognizes and salutes health care professionals that 
        treat asthma- and allergy-related health issues each day; and
            (6) recognizes and reaffirms the Nation's commitment to 
        continued education surrounding asthma and allergy treatment 
        and symptoms and to advancing care for both asthma and allergy 
        conditions.
                                 <all>