H 8583

2026 -- H 8583
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LC006042
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  STATE  OF        RHODE  ISLAND
  IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
  JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
  ____________
  HOUSE RESOLUTION
  PROCLAIMING THE MONTH OF MAY 2026 AS "ASTHMA AND ALLERGY
  AWARENESS MONTH" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
  Introduced By: Representatives Edwards, Blazejewski, Kazarian, Chippendale, Bennett,
  Kennedy, Azzinaro, Shanley, Diaz, and Potter
  Date Introduced: May 26, 2026
  Referred To: House read and passed
1WHEREAS, Asthma and allergic diseases are chronic, potentially life-altering conditions
2 that affect millions of Americans and thousands of Rhode Islanders; and
3WHEREAS, Since 1984, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) has
4 designated the month of May as “National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month” to raise public
5 understanding of asthma, allergic diseases, triggers, and treatment options; and
6WHEREAS, More than 100 million people in the United States live with asthma and/or
7 allergies, including over 28 million Americans with asthma, 20 million with food allergies, and
8 81 million with nasal allergies. While individuals may have more than one of these conditions,
9 these statistics highlight the widespread impact of respiratory and immune conditions nationwide.
10 Additionally, most deaths related to asthma and allergies are preventable with proper care and
11 management; and
12WHEREAS, According to the most recent data from the United States Centers for
13 Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 26.8 million Americans (about 8.2%) have
14 current asthma, including more than 4.5 million children and 22.2 million adults, underscoring
15 the significant public health burden of this condition; and
16WHEREAS, Rhode Island residents are similarly affected by asthma, with state data
17 indicating that an estimated 24.8% of adults with current asthma have ongoing symptoms, and
18 that a proportion of Rhode Islanders experience asthma triggered or worsened by occupational
19 exposures. Providence ranked 10th in the most challenging U.S. cities for living with asthma in
1 2024 according to the AAFA; and
2WHEREAS, Asthma remains a leading cause of school absenteeism and health care
3 utilization among children nationwide, and allergic diseases, including rhinitis and food allergies,
4 contributes to significant morbidity, decreased quality of life, and economic costs for families and
5 communities; and
6WHEREAS, Raising awareness, enhancing education about environmental triggers such
7 as air pollution and allergens, promoting early diagnosis, improving access to effective health
8 care, and supporting research and evidence-based prevention and treatment strategies are essential
9 to reducing the burden of asthma and allergies; now, therefore be it
10RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby
11 proclaims the Month of May 2026 as "Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month" in the State of
12 Rhode Island and urges Rhode Islanders of all ages to observe this month with appropriate
13 awareness, education, and outreach activities designed to improve the health and well-being of
14 individuals living with asthma and allergic diseases; and be it further
15RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to
16 transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Kenneth Mendez, President and CEO of the
17 Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA).
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LC006042
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