[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 77 (Wednesday, May 26, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1108]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ASTHMA AWARENESS MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. CARRIE P. MEEK

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 26, 1999

  Mrs. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, this is Asthma Awareness Month. I 
rise to commend my colleagues, the gentlelady from California, 
Congresswoman Juanita Millender-McDonald, and the gentlelady from 
Maryland, Congresswoman Constance A. Morella, for introducing the 
Asthma Awareness, Education And Treatment Act, and for their leadership 
in protesting America's children, minorities, women and the poor from 
the devastating effects of asthma.
  Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease characterized by inflammation 
of the airways, and increased responsiveness to various stimuli 
commonly called asthma triggers. Asthma episodes involve progressively 
worsening shortness of breath, cough, wheezing, or chest tightness, or 
some combination of these systems. The severity of asthma may range 
from mild to life-threatening.
  An estimated 14.6 million persons in the United States have asthma. 
The Centers For Disease Control and Prevention reported a 61 percent 
increase in the asthma rate between 1982 and 1994. According to The 
American Lung Association, more than 5,600 people die of asthma in the 
United States annually. This represents a 45.3 percent increase in 
mortality between 1985 and 1995.
  The death rate from asthma for African Americans is almost three 
times that of whites. Among chronic illnesses in children, asthma is 
the most common. Approximately 33 percent of asthma patients are under 
the age of 18.
  In the United States, asthma is the number one cause of school 
absences attributed to chronic conditions, leading to an average 7.3 
school days missed annually. One study estimated that in 1994, school 
days lost to asthma amounted to $673.2 million in caretaker's time lost 
from work, including outside employment and housekeeping.
  Low income families are struck the hardest by asthma. Seventy nine of 
every 1,000 people under 45 years old earning less than $10,000 per 
year have asthma. Fifty three of every 1,000 people earning less than 
$35,000 per year have asthma.
  The American Lung Association has been fighting lung disease for more 
than 90 years. With the generous support of the public and the help of 
volunteers, they have seen many advances against lung disease. However, 
the fight against asthma is far from won and government must do more if 
we are to conquer this dread disease.
  We must work with community-based organizations to educate one 
another on this serious illness and how it can be managed through 
medication, clean environments, and regular physical activity. We must 
provide screening for asthma in non-traditional medical settings; we 
must establish a nationwide media campaign to educate the public about 
the symptoms of, and the treatment for asthma.
  Most importantly, we must create clean environments. To do so, we 
must take appropriate measures to eliminate dustmites, animal dander, 
cockroaches, and mold and poor ventilation in schools, day care centers 
and homes. I am proud to be an original cosponsor of the Asthma 
Awareness, Education And Treatment Act.
  As we look forward to the millennium, working together with the 
American Lung Association and other community-based organizations all 
over America, we can ease the burdens of asthma and make breathing 
easier for everyone.

                          ____________________