With Asthma Affecting Nearly Half a Million New York Children, Gillibrand Announces New Legislation to Ensure Schools Prepare For & Prevent Asthma Attacks

Press Release

With asthma affecting 465,000 children in New York State, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today introduced the School Asthma Management Plan Act to ensure schools are equipped to respond to asthma attacks and are working to help prevent them from happening. The bill would establish grants for schools to train staff to identify and respond to student attacks, and purchase medication and equipment to improve classroom air quality. According to the New York State Department of Health, 34,000 children were hospitalized for asthma attacks between 2011 and 2013. Every year, asthma causes students across the country to miss a total of 10.5 million school days.

"As asthma rates across our state and country rise, we have to make sure our schools have the resources to prepare and prevent asthma attacks," said Senator Gillibrand. "Nearly half a million New York children suffer from this chronic disease, so the place where they spend so much of their time -- our schools -- must be ready. This legislation will make sure schools have the resources to meet our students' needs."

"Asthma remains an epidemic across America and affects 25 million Americans and almost 1.5 million New Yorkers," said Paul G. Billings, Senior Vice President, Advocacy and Education of the American Lung Association. "The American Lung Association applauds Senator Gillibrand for the introduction of these two bills and urges their passage as they will make a marked difference in improving asthma outcomes, especially for our nation's youth."

"Asthma is the leading cause of school absenteeism," said Dr. Robert Lemanske, President of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. "The program proposed in Senator Gillibrand's bill will improve school support of students with asthma and result in better attendance; improved alertness and physical stamina; and fewer medical emergencies."

Asthma is a chronic condition that affects as many as 25 million adults and youth across the country. In the last 10 years, the proportion of people with asthma in the United States grew by nearly 15 percent. However, funding for the Centers for Disease Control National Asthma Control Program has been reduced, eliminating resources for schools to prepare for and address potential asthma attacks.

The School Asthma Management Plan Act, introduced today with Senators Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and Bob Casey (D-PA), would establish grants for schools to coordinate responses to asthma-related medical emergencies, access to life-saving medication and the equipment to help prevent attacks, including air filters, to improve classroom air quality.

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