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 Representatives Debbie Dingell (D-MI) and David Valadao (R-CA), co-chairs of the Congressional Asthma and Allergy Caucus, along with Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), and Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY) reintroduced the Elijah E. Cummings Family Asthma Act, legislation that would expand federal, state, and local efforts to improve care for individuals with asthma.
 
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 25 million people, including over 4 million children, live with asthma in the United States. Asthma disproportionately impacts women and minority communities who bear the brunt of the disease. Individuals living in poverty, as measured by the federal poverty line, are also more likely to suffer from asthma. Additionally, asthma imposes significant economic burdens, costing the United States over $81 billion in medical and indirect costs in the form of missed days of school and work.
 
The Elijah E. Cummings Family Asthma Act expands the CDC’s National Asthma Control Program to all 50 states. The National Asthma Control Program helps health departments across the country ensure the availability of and access to guidelines-based medical management and pharmacotherapy for all people with asthma to address the public health burden of the disease. The legislation also directs the CDC to collaborate with state and local health departments to provide information and education to the public regarding asthma. Additionally, the legislation requires the development of state plans around public health responses to asthma, particularly for disproportionately affected populations, and mandates the collection and coordination of data on the impact of asthma.
 
“Michigan has one of the highest prevalence rates of asthma in the country, and action is needed to reduce the burden of this disease in my home state and across the country,” said Rep. Dingell. “The Elijah E. Cummings Family Asthma Act will strengthen the public health response to this disease and help all Americans with this disease live healthier lives, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to make sure this legislation becomes law.”

“The Central Valley suffers from some of the worst air quality in the nation, and as a result, over half a million people have been diagnosed with asthma,” said Rep.Valadao. “The Elijah E. Cummings Family Asthma Act is a bipartisan step toward expanding access to care and improving the quality of life for people living with this difficult and life-altering disease. As co-chair of the Congressional Asthma and Allergy Caucus, I’m proud to reintroduce this bill and remain committed to ensuring Central Valley families have access to the care they need to live happy, healthy lives.” 

“Asthma remains one of the most common—and most costly—chronic diseases in America, yet our public-health response varies dramatically from state to state. The Elijah E. Cummings Family Asthma Act closes that gap,” said Rep. Fitzpatrick. “By expanding a proven national program to all 50 states, we equip local health departments with the tools to reduce attacks, prevent hospitalizations, and deliver better outcomes for the families in our PA-1 community, and nationwide, who shoulder this burden every day.” 

“Asthma continues to be a chronic illness affecting millions of Americans each year and disproportionately impacting Black and Brown people and women,” said Rep. Clarke. “This bill will expand access to essential asthma services, support prevention, and equip families with the tools they need to manage this chronic disease. By addressing the health disparities and providing much-needed care in our underserved communities, we are decreasing the number of hospitalizations and emergency room visits and improving the overall management of asthma across this nation.” 

The bill is supported by the American Lung Association, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, and the Allergy & Asthma Network.

“Asthma is a chronic lung disease that impacts millions of children and adults in the U.S. We must ensure that every person, regardless of their zip code or socioeconomic status, has access to the high-quality asthma care they need to breathe easier and live healthier lives,” said Harold Wimmer, President and CEO of the American Lung Association. “Thankfully, at a time when too many families are struggling to manage this condition, the Elijah E. Cummings Family Asthma Act offers real solutions. This legislation will strengthen asthma programs, expand care, increase awareness and reduce the burden of this chronic disease."

"On behalf of the nearly 28 million people in the United States with asthma, we appreciate the leadership of Rep. Dingell and co-sponsors Reps. Clarke, Valadao, and Fitzpatrick on the Elijah E. Cummings Family Asthma Act," said Kenneth Mendez, president and CEO of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA). "The Act expands the successful National Asthma Control Program (NACP) to reach all of the United States. While the NACP expanded from 1999-2018 to support state-based asthma programs, asthma-related mortality decreased by 44%. NACP-funded programs in 29 states reduce missed days of school and work, emergency room visits, and hospitalizations by enabling people with asthma to better manage their condition. This bill will also address the $115 billion annual economic burden of asthma. Expanding the NACP is essential to making America healthier by reducing the burden of chronic disease and keeping families across the country healthy and productive."
 
View the full bill text here.