Joe Barton: “this week and today we are trying to focus attention on the problem of asthma in the United States. I am one of the…”

“this week and today we are trying to focus attention on the problem of asthma in the United States. I am one of the original sponsors, and to this day, chief sponsors of Asthma Awareness Day. Senator Kennedy in the other body and the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Kennedy) in this body, and a number of other House Members and Members of the other body are trying to focus attention on what we can do to help alleviate the causes of asthma and the symptoms of asthma and bring attention to the fact that millions and millions of Americans, both adult and young children, are afflicted by this. The good news is that most asthmatics can lead normal, healthy lives without any really negatives consequences. I have a son, Brad Barton, who is 31. He has had asthma all his life, and yet he in high school was a star member of his tennis team and active in academics and athletics in his high school. He is now married and the father of two fine children my two grandsons, Blake and Brant. He has had inhalers and various medicines that he has taken in his entire life, but he leads a normal healthy life. So we are holding a number of events. We had a reception last evening over at Union Station. We have another reception this afternoon, and we are just trying to bring attention to the fact that there is a lot that can be done on asthma. And there is a lot we can do to help those who have asthma to make their lives full and productive.”