Happy New Year! Welcome to your January advocacy update. I’m Jenna Riemenschneider, director of Advocacy at the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA). I'm pictured above with Mark Vieth, senior vice president at Cavarocchi Ruscio Dennis Associates (left), and Kenneth Mendez, CEO and president of AAFA (middle), before the House of Representatives’ Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health hearing.

AAFA Attended Meetings on Schools Protections

AAFA continued to meet with congressional offices in December to ask them to co-sponsor the School-Based Allergies and Asthma Management Program Act (H.R. 2468). This bill would put protections in place for children with asthma and allergies. Thanks to our efforts, Kenneth Mendez, CEO and president of AAFA, testified before the House of Representatives’ Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health. Ask your representatives to pass H.R. 2468 using our simple online tool to contact your representative.

2020 Funding for Asthma and Allergy Programs

Last month, Congress approved and President Trump signed into law a spending package to fund the government for 2020. It included funding for programs that benefit the asthma and allergy communities. AAFA advocated for several asthma and food allergy items included in this funding during 2019.

AAFA Signed Onto Letters for Epinephrine Policies and Sesame Allergen Labeling

AAFA signed four letters of support or comment last month. Read summaries of each letter on our Positions and Statements page.

AAFA Sends Letter Supporting Dockets Relating to Epinephrine and Anaphylactic Policies – Dec. 3, 2019

AAFA Signs Letter Urging Final Negotiations on FY 2020 Defense Appropriations Act – Dec. 9, 2019

AAFA Signs Comment Letter on FDA's Proposed Rule on PMTAs – Dec. 16, 2019

AAFA Sends Letter to FDA Requesting Sesame Labeling Discussion – Dec. 18, 2019

Contact me with questions or comments! To send a message to me, click my name at the top of this blog post and send me a private message.