Cliff Stearns: “I am here today to share with my colleagues that May is Asthma Awareness Month. Last Wednesday on May 1, here on Capitol…”

“I am here today to share with my colleagues that May is Asthma Awareness Month. Last Wednesday on May 1, here on Capitol Hill, we held an entire day of related activities including a hearing and free screenings. I thank my colleagues that participated and found it rewarding and informative. Meanwhile, Asthma Awareness Day was observed nationally and many cities around the country hosted screenings and festivities to foster awareness about this startlingly increasing health condition in the United States. As you may know, some 15 million Americans have asthma, and also 50 million suffer from allergies. The incidence of asthma is increasing at an alarming rate, doubling over the last decade and a half. Of particular concern is that the group diagnosed with the highest increase of asthma is children under five years old. I hope that we in Congress can all do our part by promoting knowledge about some simple steps that can be taken to alleviate suffering of asthma and allergy symptoms in our Nation's schools.”