WASHINGTON, DC – Today, House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) and Republican Rep. Dr. Phil Roe (TN-01) re-introduced H.R. 2468, the bipartisan School-Based Allergies and Asthma Management Program Act in the 116th Congress. This legislation would encourage schools to implement management plans in order to be prepared to help students identify and control their asthma and allergies and reduce absenteeism that results from students’ difficulty managing these chronic conditions. It builds on the successful bipartisan effort in 2013 to enact the School Access to Emergency Epinephrine Act, when Mr. Hoyer and Dr. Roe partnered to help schools ensure availability of emergency epinephrine for those experiencing severe, life-threatening allergic reactions at school. More than six million children in America suffer from asthma, one of the leading causes of school absenteeism, with an estimated 14 million days of school missed each year, according to the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program. Last year, the legislation garnered the support of more than forty cosponsors.



“America’s students ought to be able to go to school and learn without having to worry that school nurses and staff won’t be prepared to help in an emergency relating to asthma or allergies,” Leader Hoyer said. “Parents should have peace of mind that their children’s schools are equipped to handle an asthma attack or an allergic reaction. This legislation will help by encouraging more schools around the country to have the proper training and planning in place. I’m proud to partner once more with Dr. Roe to ensure that our response to this challenge is serious and bipartisan.”



“I’m proud to work across the aisle with my friend and colleague, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, on this important issue. The School-Based Allergies and Asthma Management Program Act will help school personnel and parents ensure students with asthma adequately manage their condition so they can focus on their education with peace of mind,” said Congressman Roe.



The Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services recommend that schools develop and maintain comprehensive management plans to support children with lower airway disorders such as asthma and help control their disorders while in school. Most schools, unfortunately, do not maintain such plans and are ill prepared for emergencies. These plans will not only improve children’s health, but they will also ensure that students are able to focus on learning while in school. The School-Based Allergies and Asthma Management Program Act has been endorsed by the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, and the Allergy and Asthma Network.