[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 52 (Wednesday, May 1, 2002)]
[House]
[Page H1998]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1500
                            ASTHMA AWARENESS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. LaHood). Under a previous order of the 
House, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Barton) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. BARTON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, this week and today we are trying 
to focus attention on the problem of asthma in the United States. I am 
one of the original sponsors, and to this day, chief sponsors of Asthma 
Awareness Day. Senator Kennedy in the other body and the gentleman from 
Rhode Island (Mr. Kennedy) in this body, and a number of other House 
Members and Members of the other body are trying to focus attention on 
what we can do to help alleviate the causes of asthma and the symptoms 
of asthma and bring attention to the fact that millions and millions of 
Americans, both adult and young children, are afflicted by this.
  The good news is that most asthmatics can lead normal, healthy lives 
without any really negatives consequences. I have a son, Brad Barton, 
who is 31. He has had asthma all his life, and yet he in high school 
was a star member of his tennis team and active in academics and 
athletics in his high school. He is now married and the father of two 
fine children my two grandsons, Blake and Brant. He has had inhalers 
and various medicines that he has taken in his entire life, but he 
leads a normal healthy life. So we are holding a number of events.
  We had a reception last evening over at Union Station. We have 
another reception this afternoon, and we are just trying to bring 
attention to the fact that there is a lot that can be done on asthma. 
And there is a lot we can do to help those who have asthma to make 
their lives full and productive. One of the most famous asthmatics 
today is Jerome Bettis, the running back for the Pittsburg Steelers. He 
is one of the chief national spokesmen to bring attention to the 
affliction of asthma and how he can function as a member of the 
Pittsburg Steelers and be as effective and have the all-pro running 
back that he has had.
  Mr. Speaker, I am just here to encourage all of my Members as we try 
to educate the American people about asthma and to continue the 
research and to find a way to prevent it and cure it and to help 
develop medicines that can make it easier for those of us who have it.
  Asthma affects nearly five million children and causes more than 
5,000 deaths each year. It is the leading cause of missed school days, 
yet many schools do not allow students to carry and use prescribed 
lifesaving asthma medication. When physicians prescribe inhalers, they 
instruct patients to carry them at all times. Asthma can happen any 
time, anywhere--in the classroom, on the playground, or in the 
lunchroom--so it's important for students to have immediate access to 
their inhalers. To date, the Allergy and Asthma Network--Mothers of 
Asthmatics (AANMA) has found only 17 states that have developed laws or 
policies which protect children's rights to carry inhalers in school. 
Schools that restrict or revoke this right, put themselves and students 
with asthma at risk. They also put other students at risk of witnessing 
a potentially life-threatening asthma attack. I strongly support 
children's rights to carry inhalers at school, and would urge States 
and local school districts to make this lifesaving decision for their 
students.

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