[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 77 (Wednesday, May 26, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1105]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


             ASTHMA AWARENESS, EDUCATION AND TREATMENT ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                    HON. JUANITA MILLENDER-McDONALD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 26, 1999

  Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, today I was honored to be joined 
by six-time Olympic medalist, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, for the unveiling 
of the Asthma Awareness, Education and Treatment Act, which I am 
introducing tonight. I am joined by 35 of my colleagues from both sides 
of the aisle introducing this important legislation to help children 
suffering from asthma.
  Over the past several weeks, the safety, health and well-being of 
America's children have been in the hearts and minds of parents and 
families throughout the country. Today, we are addressing a critical 
health issue that is affecting the health of our children: asthma.
  The Asthma Awareness, Education and Treatment Act establishes a grant 
to reach out to inner-city, minority and low income communities to 
fight asthma. Some of the initiatives include: asthma and allergy 
screenings; education programs for parents and teachers; a nationwide 
media campaign; tax incentives for pest control and air climate control 
businesses to alleviate the suffering of asthmatic children; and 
community outreach through nontraditional medical settings, including 
schools and welfare offices.
  We must act now to help our children breathe more easily. African-
Americans are five times more likely than other Americans to seek 
emergency room care for asthma. The asthma death rate is also twice as 
high among African-Americans and a staggering four times higher for 
African-American children. Asthma is also more prevalent among all age 
groups in lower income families. In families with an annual income of 
less than $10,000, 79.2 out of 1,000 individuals have asthma while in 
families with an annual income of $20,000 to $34,999, 53.6 out of 1,000 
individuals have asthma--that means close to 400,000 more people with 
extremely limited earnings have asthma.

  Whatever your income, we are all paying the price for the 160 percent 
increase in asthma among preschool children over the past decade. The 
total cost of asthma to Americans was close to $12 billion last year. 
Simply put, parents miss work, children miss school, and too many cases 
are treated in emergency rooms that could have been treated, or in some 
situations prevented, by medication and ongoing management by a 
physician.
  Today, we are taking steps to curb this staggering growth in asthma 
cases, its high cost to society, and its disproportionate effect on 
minorities and low income families. With the Asthma Awareness, 
Education and Treatment Act, we will empower teachers, parents, 
coaches, and anyone who works with children to help those with asthma.

  I represent some of the poorest areas of the country in South Central 
Los Angeles. I have seen the dire need for community assistance. And I 
know the tax incentives in this bill will jump start businesses that 
can make our communities better and ultimately save lives that 
otherwise may have been cut short by asthma.
  I have been working with the Allergies and Asthmatics Network/Mothers 
of Asthmatics, the American Medical Women's Association, the American 
Lung Association, the Children's Environment Network, the Children's 
Defense Fund, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the National 
Association of Children's Hospitals to help children and their families 
face and manage this critical disease.
  I hope that my colleagues will join me, Jackie Joyner-Kersee and all 
of these groups in raising awareness of asthma and making sure that 
this bill is brought to the floor as soon as possible.

                          ____________________