Advocating for Patients

U.S. systems have historically failed Black Americans and other marginalized groups. AAFA's goal is to dramatically reduce the burden of asthma and allergies for underserved groups within five years.

On May 22, 2020, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) relaxed labeling guidelines for food companies . This is a temporary measure because of food supply issues due to COVID-19 (the new coronavirus). The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) met with the FDA to talk about how this will affect the food allergy community. After the meeting, we organized a joint letter with other food allergy advocacy organizations to send to the FDA. The letter addresses the FDA’s short-term food...

The U.S. House of Representatives has declared their support for National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month . Reps. Eliot Engel (D-NY), Fred Upton (R-MI), TJ Cox (D-CA) and Peter King (R-NY) submitted the resolution to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on May 8, 2020. May is peak season for people with asthma and allergies. That’s why the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) chose it as a time to raise awareness and educate people on how to manage these conditions. Read...

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) has been fighting to save lives for nearly 70 years. With your support, we provide education, conduct patient-centered research and advocate for protections for our community. Our experience and strong community ties allowed us to take prompt action on the COVID-19 crisis . Thanks to your generous support, we are leading the fight against COVID-19 for people with asthma and allergies. But we need your help to continue to provide COVID-19...

Congressmen Eliot L. Engel (D-NY) and Fred Upton (R-MI), Co-Chairs of the Asthma and Allergy Caucus, joined by Congressmen TJ Cox (D-CA) and Peter King (R-NY), Members of Caucus, led 57 Members of the House on a letter to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about shortages of albuterol inhalers, which are critical to effective asthma management.

Because of the COVID-19 (new coronavirus) pandemic, we are facing a challenging and unprecedented time. COVID-19 is a respiratory infection, and the nearly 25 million Americans with asthma are at high risk for complications from the virus. As the leading patient organization for people with asthma and allergies, this has the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) deeply concerned for your health and well-being.

In January, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) proposed new rules regarding animals on planes . If passed, airlines would no longer be forced to recognize emotional support animals as service animals and may treat them as pets. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) has submitted our comment to the DOT on behalf of people with asthma and allergies. Read our comment below. We also encourage you to submit your own comment to the DOT about emotional support animals on...

On Feb. 27, 2020, Senator Cory Booker and Representative Katherine Clark introduced the Clean Air, Sharp Minds Act. The proposed act would give schools a three-year grant to help them improve indoor air quality (IAQ) . The grant would allow schools in high pollution areas or that pose a severe health and safety threat to install commercial air filters. This program would be managed by the Department of Education and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). These grants aim to: Improve the...

Welcome to your February advocacy update. I’m Jenna Riemenschneider, director of advocacy at the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA). I am pictured above with AAFA board member Renuka Babu Brown and Senator Ed Markey's (D-MA) policy advisor Adam Axler. Over-the-Counter Drug Access and Cleaner Cars Rollbacks AAFA and other members of the Healthy Choices Coalition met with Representative Judy Chu's office. We asked her to co-sponsor the Restoring Access to Medication Act of 2019...

U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), top Democrat on the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, was joined by 32 Senators in introducing legislation that would put the United States on a path to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by no later than 2050.

On Jan. 22, 2020, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) released proposed rules on animals on planes. If they finalize these rules, airlines would no longer be forced to recognize emotional support animals as service animals and may treat them as pets.

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).