AANMA Helping Raise Awareness, Improve Lives Through Support for Congressional Allergy & Asthma Caucus

Caucus keeps allergy and asthma in the healthcare discussion, is the latest initiative for improving asthma and allergy care nationwide

WASHINGTON, June 10, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Continuing its work to end suffering and death from allergy and asthma in the United States, Allergy & Asthma Network Mothers of Asthmatics (AANMA) proudly announces and is leading support for the Congressional Allergy & Asthma Caucus. The efforts of Representatives Joe Barton (R-TX), Bill Cassidy, MD (R-LA), Eliot Engel (D-NY) and Nita Lowey (D-NY) made the Caucus possible. It underscores the importance of allergy and asthma care as a national issue and is a key step toward improving research for people with asthma and allergies, educating Congress about these conditions and increasing public awareness.

"We commend these congressional leaders for taking charge and helping improve asthma and allergy care," said AANMA President and Founder Nancy Sander. "As U.S. asthma rates continue their rapid rise, it is simply unacceptable that all patients do not receive NIH Guidelines-level care for asthma and allergies. We're working to fix that."

"I have been involved in this cause for more than 14 years, and I'm proud to be a founding member of this bi-partisan Caucus," stated Rep. Barton. "This disease doesn't care if you are a Republican or Democrat, it affects everyone — and together, I believe we can ultimately reach our goal to end the deaths and suffering caused by asthma and allergies."

"Allergies and asthma can have severe and long-lasting effects on health and quality of life for New Yorkers and millions of other Americans," said Congresswoman Lowey. "I am pleased to partner with Congressman Engel and other members of Congress in drawing attention to the need for research and resources to help schools, physicians and families deal with potentially serious health problems like asthma and allergies."

"This caucus gives asthma an official voice on Capitol Hill and by combining Congress members with legislative power and medical expertise, it will help us reach our goals of reducing health care costs and saving lives," Barton added. "I hope my co-chairs and I are able to work together to pass legislation to encourage and incentivize states to follow national, lifesaving guidelines laid out by the National Institutes of Health."

On May 4, AANMA hosted its 14th annual Asthma Awareness Day Capitol Hill (AADCH), stressing to Congress the need for asthma and allergy care that is patient-centered and grounded in the NIH Asthma Guidelines and Food Allergy Guidelines. The group also discussed solutions with Congress for ensuring all patients with these conditions receive the care they need and, particularly with the nation's current economic concerns and the need to cut wasteful spending, eliminate unnecessary healthcare expenditures associated with asthma and allergies.

For more information and to learn more about AANMA, call 800.878.4403 or visit www.aanma.org.

About AANMA

Allergy & Asthma Network Mothers of Asthmatics (AANMA) is the leading national nonprofit organization dedicated to ending death and suffering due to asthma, allergies and related conditions. AANMA specializes in sharing family-friendly, medically accurate information through its award-winning publications Allergy & Asthma Today magazine and The MA Report newsletter, its website at www.aanma.org and numerous community outreach programs. You can also follow AANMA on Facebook, Twitter and our blogs.

SOURCE Allergy & Asthma Network Mothers of Asthmatics