[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 61 (Wednesday, May 5, 2004)]
[House]
[Page H2630]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CELEBRATING NATIONAL ALLERGY AND ASTHMA AWARENESS MONTH AND ALLERGY AND 
                          ASTHMA AWARENESS DAY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Cole). Under a previous order of the 
House, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Millender-McDonald) is 
recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, this month we are celebrating 
National Allergy and Asthma Awareness Month. Yesterday was Allergy and 
Asthma Awareness Day.
  Last night, while attending the Allergy and Asthma Network Mothers of 
Asthmatics Awards Recognition Dinner, I had the pleasure of meeting two 
dynamic young people who suffer from asthma and yet are doing amazing 
things to raise awareness about this respiratory disorder.
  Evan Mungan of Arnold, Maryland, and Rachel Lambin of Gardenerville, 
Nevada, were the recipients of the AANMA Creative Kids Sunny Awards, 
which highlights drawings, paintings and writings by children who share 
their feelings about asthma.
  Mr. Speaker, Evan won an award for his drawing entitled ``Good Day/
Bad Day,'' which is here on the floor, which illustrates the difference 
between a healthy lung and a lung with asthma.
  Rachel wrote this original composition, ``When I Can Breathe,'' which 
is here on the floor, which expresses her feelings when the weight of 
asthma has taken its toll on families.
  Asthma is the most common chronic disease of childhood; and, 
unfortunately, the number of children and young people with asthma is 
increasing. About 17 million U.S. citizens have asthma; 5 million of 
these are children under the age of 18. About one in 13 school-age 
children has asthma. Health care costs related to asthma are estimated 
at $14 billion annually.
  Both Rachel and Evan joined me on the floor today, Mr. Speaker, and 
they had the opportunity to be on the floor with their siblings, John 
Henry and Anabel, to take part in meeting Members and shaking their 
hands. They really did enjoy that.
  But, Mr. Speaker, the faces of asthma sufferers are the faces of all 
of our children, and I believe we have a duty to help them. Earlier 
this Congress, I introduced the Asthma Awareness and Treatment Act of 
2003. This legislation allows the HHS Secretary to award contracts for 
a national media campaign to inform the public and health care 
providers on asthma, allergies and related respiratory problems, 
especially in children, and provides research into whether there is a 
causal relationship between air pollutants and the occurrence of 
asthma, allergy and related respiratory problems.
  I am also proud to cosponsor H.R. 2023, the Asthmatic 
Schoolchildren's Treatment and Health Management Act of 2003. This 
legislation would give funding preference to those States that protect 
students' rights to carry and use prescribed life-saving asthma and 
other medications.
  I would like to thank the AANMA for all of their hard work in making 
this 7th Annual Asthma Awareness Day on Capitol Hill such a resounding 
success. I joined with my colleague, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. 
Barton), to cochair this year's day on Capitol Hill.

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