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[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 118 (Friday, August 3, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1425-E1426]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

                      THE BREATH OF FRESH AIR ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. LAURA RICHARDSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, August 2, 2012

  Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, later today I will be introducing the 
Breath of Fresh Air Act. This legislation would establish a grant 
program to make funds available to elementary and secondary schools to 
purchase nebulizers. I am proud to be joined by Congresswoman Eleanor 
Holmes Norton as an original co-sponsor, and I urge my colleagues to 
join me as a co-sponsor.
  A nebulizer is an extremely effective and easy-to-use medical device 
used to treat asthma attacks. It delivers the medicine in the form of a 
mist directly to the person's lungs and is the best remedy for young 
children who may not cooperate in their time of distress. This bill 
authorizes funding to purchase nebulizers as well as to provide 
training to school personnel who administer the nebulizers.
  Mr. Speaker, across the United States, nearly 25 million people have 
been diagnosed with asthma, including almost 7 million children. That 
means on average one out of every 10 school-age children suffers from 
the shortness of breath, chest pain, and airway restrictions that are 
common symptoms of asthma. This serious disease impacts every district 
in every state, and its effects are far-reaching.
  Low-income and minority communities are disproportionately affected 
by this chronic respiratory disease, and their health outcomes are 
likely to be worse. The Environmental Protection Agency reports that 
black children are twice as likely to be hospitalized and four times as 
likely to die from asthma as white children. Low-income and minority 
communities also disproportionately live in areas afflicted with high 
levels of air pollution, allergens, and other environmental factors 
that trigger asthma attacks. They may also have limited resources to 
put towards asthma management or to deal with the financial challenges 
of medical bills and missed days at school and work.
  I have been particularly concerned with this issue, as it affects my 
home district in California. The Ports of Long Beach and Los Angles 
operate within and near the 37th Congressional District, and if left 
unregulated, the California Air Resources Board estimates that the 
ports will be the largest source of pollution in the state by 2020--
greater than the impact of every car on the road in California. The 
neighborhoods of Los Angeles and Long Beach also rank as one of the 
U.S. cities most polluted by Particle Pollution. Exposure to air 
pollution such as this can be dangerous for children whose lungs are 
still developing, and it increases the risk of emergency room visits 
for asthma attacks.
  The purpose of this grant program is to provide schools with the 
equipment to treat asthma attacks as soon as symptoms present 
themselves, and without contributing to the nearly 2 million asthma-
related emergency room visits each year. School personnel, particularly 
school nurses, play an invaluable role in detecting early symptoms and 
administering a quick medical response in emergency situations. This 
grant program would be a way to support their efforts even as schools 
face budget cuts. It will ensure that they have access to all possible 
resources and can properly assist the students and families with the 
full range of asthma management decisions.
  I also want to acknowledge the indispensable work of my able staff 
members, Anna Bartels and Gregory Berry, in developing this important 
legislation.
  I would also like to submit into the Record a letter of support from 
the Allergy and Asthma Network/Mothers of Asthmatics, and I thank them 
for their hard work to ease suffering from asthma, allergies, and other 
related conditions.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in support of the Breath 
of Fresh Air Act. Let us work together to make schools a healthy and 
safe place for children.
                                       Allergy and Asthma Network,

                                        Mothers of Asthmatics,

                                       McLean, VA, August 2, 2012.
     Hon. Laura Richardson,
     1330 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, DC.
       Dear Representative Richardson: Founded in 1985 by families 
     for families, Allergy & Asthma Network Mothers of Asthmatics 
     (AANMA) is the leading national nonprofit family organization 
     dedicated to eliminating death and suffering due to asthma, 
     allergies and related conditions.
       AANMA supports the ``Breath of Fresh Air Act'' which would 
     provide student access to nebulizers at school for use with 
     their prescribed medications.
       Working together with 28 organizations, AANMA led the 
     nationwide effort to ensure students have the right to carry 
     and self-administer their lifesaving inhalers and auto-
     injectable epinephrine during the school day. Today 50 states 
     protect that right for students with asthma and 49 states 
     protect students' rights to carry their auto-injectable 
     epinephrine.
       While students can carry and self-administer their 
     inhalers, in some cases students may best be served by 
     inhaling these medications via the nebulizer.
       We support the ``Breath of Fresh Air Act'' and look forward 
     to its passage.
           Sincerely,
                                                     Nancy Sander,
                                            President and Founder.

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