109th Congress

Asthma Research, Awareness, Education, and Prevention

H.R. 172, S. 1489/H.R. 4166

Background

Asthma is a chronic disease that affects the airway to the lungs, causing inflammation, sensitivity to certain allergens and contaminants, restriction of the airway, and symptoms such as coughing, chest tightness, and difficulty breathing. Asthma cannot be cured, but it can be controlled so that most patients have only minimal and infrequent symptoms and can lead active lives. Allergic diseases, including asthma, are among the major causes of illness and disability in the United States. Illness and death from asthma have been increasing in this country for the past 15 years and are particularly high among poor, inner-city African Americans. Although asthma is only slightly more prevalent among minority children than among Whites, it accounts for three times the number of deaths. Low socioeconomic status, exposure to urban environmental contaminants, lack of access to medical care, and lack of self-management skills all contribute to the increasing number of asthma-related deaths in minority communities.

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), and National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) conduct a broad spectrum of research studies on the etiology of asthma and on clinical and educational strategies to control the disease. Through the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP), research, voluntary health, medical, and patient organizations as well as Federal agencies translate research findings into clinical practice guidelines and education materials for patients and the public. NAEPP member organizations, which include several Federal agencies, also conduct and evaluate clinical and community intervention programs that use best practice strategies to improve asthma control and disseminate these outcomes to other communities.

Congressional interest in asthma research, awareness, education, treatment, and prevention has continued in the 109th Congress. Thus far, three bills containing NIH-related provisions have been introduced, H.R. 172, S. 1489, and H.R. 4166, by Representative Juanita Millender-McDonald (D-CA), Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY), and Representative Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY), respectively. (The latter two bills are companion measures.) All three bills would duplicate activities currently underway at NIH.

Provisions of the Legislation/Impact on NIH

H.R. 172, the Asthma Awareness, Education and Treatment Act of 2005, would authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to carry out programs related to the prevention and management of asthma, allergies, and related respiratory problems, among other purposes. The research-related provisions would require the Director of NHLBI to 1) identify, through the NAEPP Coordinating Committee, all Federal programs that conduct asthma-related activities, 2) develop a Federal plan for responding to asthma, in consultation with appropriate Federal agencies and professional and voluntary health organizations, and 3) submit, within 12 months of enactment, recommendations to Congress on ways to strengthen and improve the coordination of asthma-related activities of the Federal government. The bill would also require that $5 million of the funds appropriated for NIH be made available to NAEPP for fiscal years (FYs) 2006 through 2010 to carry out coordination efforts.

Research-related provisions of S. 1489/H.R. 4166, the Family Asthma Act, would 1) require the Secretary of HHS, acting through the Director of NIH, to award grants for pilot projects to prevent and control asthma symptoms and reduce asthma attacks in families, including projects for research and development of novel interventions, 2) designate NIEHS as the lead Institute for these activities, in coordination with NHLBI, NIAID, and the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, 3) establish NHLBI's NAEPP in statute, with an authorization of $1 million for each of the FYs 2006 through 2010, and 4) amend NIEHS's authorities to require the establishment of a fellowship training program related to environmental factors in the development and prevention of asthma. Various authorizations of appropriations to carry out relevant provisions are included in the legislation.

Status and Outlook

H.R. 172 was introduced by Representative Millender-McDonald on January 4, 2005, and was referred to the House Committees on Ways and Means and on Energy and Commerce. No further action has occurred on this legislation.

S. 1489, the companion bill to H.R. 4166, was introduced by Senator Clinton on July 26, 2005, and was referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. It had one cosponsor. No further action has occurred on this legislation.

H.R. 4166, the companion bill to S. 1489, was introduced by Representative McCarthy on October 27, 2005, and was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. It had one cosponsor. No further action has occurred on this legislation.