Authorizes the Secretary to award contracts to provide for a national media campaign to inform the public and health care providers about asthma, allergies, and related respiratory problems, especially in children.
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to give taxpayers licensed and engaged in the trade or business of providing pest control services or heating, ventilation, and air conditioning services an income tax credit for the aggregate cost of providing such services without charge to: (1) public housing; or (2) any multifamily residential rental property at least 75 percent of whose occupants are reasonably expected to have incomes below 200 percent of the official poverty line.
Directs the Secretary to provide for research regarding a causal relationship between air pollutants and the occurrence of asthma, allergies, and related respiratory problems.
Requires the Director of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, through the National Asthma Education Prevention Program Coordinating Committee, to: (1) identify Federal programs that carry out asthma-related activities; and (2) develop and submit to Congress a Federal plan for responding to asthma.
Requires the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to collect and publish asthma-related data.
[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 172 Introduced in House (IH)]
109th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 172
To authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to carry out
programs regarding the prevention and management of asthma, allergies,
and related respiratory problems, to establish a tax credit regarding
pest control and indoor air quality and climate control services for
multifamily residential housing in low-income communities, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 4, 2005
Ms. Millender-McDonald introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to
the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently
determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such
provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to carry out
programs regarding the prevention and management of asthma, allergies,
and related respiratory problems, to establish a tax credit regarding
pest control and indoor air quality and climate control services for
multifamily residential housing in low-income communities, and for
other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Asthma Awareness, Education and
Treatment Act of 2005''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds as follows:
(1) Asthma is a chronic lung condition that affects an
estimated 14,600,000 Americans, including 4,800,000 children.
(2) An estimated 40,000,000 to 50,000,000 Americans suffer
from allergies, including allergic asthma.
(3) Asthma is the most common chronic respiratory disease
of children, accounting for 25 percent of school absenteeism,
and is the third leading cause of preventable hospitalizations.
(4) During the period 1980 through 1994 the prevalence of
pediatric asthma increased by 72 percent, and the percentage of
preschool children with asthma increased by 160 percent.
(5) The prevalence of asthma is greater in women than in
men (5.6 percent of women as compared to 5.1 percent of men).
(6) Asthma has a disparate impact on low income families,
i.e, a family of four with an income of less than $17,650. In
households with an annual income of less than $10,000, 79.2 of
1,000 individuals who are under the age of 45 have asthma,
while in families with an annual income of between $20,000 and
$35,000, 53.6 of 1,000 individuals under the age of 45 have
asthma.
(7) In 1997, more than 5,000 Americans died from asthma
attacks. During the period 1993 through 1995, the average
number of deaths from asthma for African Americans was 38.5
deaths per million individuals, while the average for
Caucasians was 15.1 deaths per million.
(8) Asthma is estimated to cost the United States over
$12,000,000,000 annually and the rise in the prevalence of
asthma will lead to higher costs in the future.
(9) African Americans are five times more likely than other
segments of the population to seek care for asthma at an
emergency room.
(10) The asthma death rate is four times higher among
African American children and two times higher among all
African Americans.
(11) Exercise improves the physical and psychological well-
being of children. Children with asthma require treatment
programs that are tailored to their unique needs because in
some instances, exercise can trigger negative response among
asthmatics.
SEC. 3. GRANTS FOR PROJECTS FOR ASTHMA-RELATED ACTIVITIES FOR LOW-
INCOME COMMUNITIES.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services (in
this section referred to as the ``Secretary'') may make grants to
public and nonprofit private entities for the purpose of carrying out
projects to provide for individuals in low-income communities--
(1) screenings and referrals regarding asthma, allergies,
and related respiratory problems in accordance with subsection
(b);
(2) information and education regarding such conditions in
accordance with subsection (c); and
(3) workshops regarding such conditions that are provided
for parents, teachers, physical education instructors, school
nurses, school counselors, athletic coaches, and other
individuals who serve in supervisory roles of children in such
communities.
(b) Screenings and Referrals.--The Secretary shall ensure that
screenings and referrals regarding asthma, allergies, and related
respiratory problems under subsection (a) are comprehensive, and that
the settings in which the screenings and referrals are provided
include--
(1) traditional medical settings such as hospitals, health
clinics, and the offices of physicians; and
(2) nontraditional settings for the provision of such
services, such as nurseries, elementary and secondary schools,
community centers, public housing units, volunteer
organizations, convenience stores, local governmental offices,
day care centers, sites that offer nutrition-related services
for women, infants, and children, and governmental offices that
provide cash assistance for low-income individuals.
(c) Information and Education.--The Secretary shall ensure that
information and education on asthma, allergies, and related respiratory
problems under subsection (a) is provided in accordance with the
following:
(1) The information and education is provided in the
language and cultural context that is most appropriate for the
individuals for whom the information and education is intended.
(2) The information and education includes information and
education to increase understanding on the following:
(A) The symptoms of the conditions.
(B) Preventing the conditions.
(C) Monitoring and managing the conditions,
including--
(i) avoiding circumstances that may cause
asthma attacks or other respiratory problems;
and
(ii) being aware of appropriate medication
options, such as the need as appropriate to
keep in one's possession an asthma inhaler.
(D) The importance of developing a treatment plan
that permits asthmatic children to regularly engage in
sports and other physical activities.
(3) The settings in which the information and education are
provided include traditional settings such as the settings
described in subsection (b)(1) and nontraditional settings such
as the settings described in subsection (b)(2).
(d) Evaluations of Projects.--The Secretary shall (directly or
through contract) provide for the evaluation of projects carried under
subsection (a), including--
(1) determining the number of low income children and
adults who have received screenings and referrals through the
projects;
(2) determining the extent to which the projects have had
an effect on the manner in which individuals served by the
projects prevent and manage asthma, allergies, and related
respiratory problems; and
(3) evaluating the effectiveness of materials used in
providing information and education.
(e) Inclusion in Project of Local Community-Based Organization.--A
condition for the receipt of a grant under subsection (a) is that--
(1) the applicant for the grant be a community-based
organization that provides services in the low-income community
in which the project under such subsection is to be carried
out; or
(2) the applicant for the grant demonstrate to the
Secretary that one or more representatives from such an
organization will play a substantial role in carrying out the
project.
(f) Application for Grant.--The Secretary may make a grant under
subsection (a) only if an application for the grant is submitted to the
Secretary and the application is in such form, is made in such manner,
and contains such agreements, assurances, and information as the
Secretary determines to be necessary to carry out this section.
(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--For the purpose of carrying
out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated $8,000,000
for fiscal year 2006, and such sums as may be necessary for each of the
fiscal years 2007 through 2010.
SEC. 4. NATIONAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN TO PROVIDE ASTHMA-RELATED INFORMATION.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services (in
this section referred to as the ``Secretary'') may make awards of
contracts to provide for a national media campaign to provide to the
public and health care providers information on asthma, allergies, and
related respiratory problems, with priority given to the occurrence of
such conditions in children. Funds for the campaign will be spent from
the appropriated sum of $5,000,000.
(b) Certain Requirements.--The Secretary shall ensure that the
national media campaign under subsection (a) is carried out in
accordance with the following:
(1) The campaign provides information regarding the
prevention and management of asthma, allergies, and related
respiratory problems.
(2) With respect to a community in which the campaign is
carried out--
(A) the campaign provides information regarding the
availability in the community of programs that provide
screenings, referrals, and treatment regarding such
conditions and training in managing the conditions; and
(B) the campaign is carried out in the language and
cultural context that is most appropriate for the
individuals for whom the campaign is intended.
The campaign message, while tailored to the affected population, should
have universal appeal and application to populations with different
demographic backgrounds.
(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--For the purpose of carrying
out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated $600,000 for
fiscal year 2006, and such sums as may be necessary for each of the
fiscal years 2007 through 2010.
SEC. 5. TAX CREDIT FOR DONATIONS OF PEST CONTROL SERVICES AND HEATING,
VENTILATION, AND AIR CONDITIONING SERVICES.
(a) In General.--Subpart D of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to business related
credits) is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``SEC. 45J. CREDIT FOR DONATIONS OF PEST CONTROL SERVICES AND HEATING,
VENTILATION, AND AIR CONDITIONING SERVICES.
``(a) In General.--For purposes of section 38, in the case of a
taxpayer engaged in the trade or business of providing pest control
services or heating, ventilation, and air conditioning services, the
donation credit determined under this section for the taxable year is
an amount equal to the aggregate cost (including wages) paid or
incurred by the taxpayer during the taxable year in providing qualified
pest control services and qualified heating, ventilation, and air
conditioning services.
``(b) Provider Must Be Licensed.--No amount shall be taken into
account for purposes of subsection (a) by a taxpayer unless the
taxpayer is licensed and certified in the type of service provided.
``(c) Definitions.--For purposes of this section--
``(1) In general.--The terms `qualified pest control
services' and `qualified heating, ventilation, and air
conditioning services' means pest control services or heating,
ventilation, and air conditioning services (as the case may be)
provided without charge in--
``(A) any public housing (as defined in section
3(b) of the United States Housing Act of 1937), or
``(B) any multifamily residential rental property
if it is reasonably expected that at least 75 percent
of the occupants of the dwelling units have incomes
below 200 percent of the official poverty line,
but only if such services are part of a good faith effort
(including follow-up treatments) to locate the source(s) of
pest or indoor air quality problems known to trigger symptoms
of asthma or allergies, remedy the problem, and provide
maintenance services that will keep indoor air climates free of
pest and indoor air allergens and if such services are verified
in such manner as the Secretary shall prescribe.
``(2) Pest control services.--For purposes of paragraph
(1), the term `pest control services' means services--
``(A) to eliminate cockroaches, dust mites, animal
dander, and mold, and
``(B) to eliminate mice, rats, vermin, and other
rodents.
``(3) Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning
services.--The term `heating, ventilation, and air conditioning
services' shall include source remediation of poor indoor air
quality.''.
(b) Conforming Amendments.--
(1) Section 38(b) of such Code is amended by striking
``plus'' at the end of paragraph (18), by striking the period
at the end of paragraph (19) and inserting ``, plus'', and by
adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(20) in the case of a taxpayer engaged in the trade or
business of providing pest control or heating, ventilation, and
air conditioning services (as defined in section 45J(c), the
donation credit determined under section 45J.''.
(2) The table of sections for subpart D of part IV of
subchapter A of chapter 1 of such Code is amended by adding at
the end the following new item:
``Sec. 45J. Credit for donations of pest control services and heating,
ventilation, and air conditioning
services.''.
(c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall
apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2005.
SEC. 6. GRANT PROGRAM REGARDING AWARENESS OF TAX CREDIT FOR DONATIONS
OF PEST CONTROL AND CLIMATE CONTROL SERVICES.
The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall, directly or
through grants or contracts, carry out a program to disseminate
information about the pest and ventilation initiative under section 45J
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
SEC. 7. RESEARCH ON RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN AIR POLLUTANTS AND ASTHMA-
RELATED PROBLEMS.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services (in
this section referred to as the ``Secretary''), in consultation with
the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, shall
(directly or through grants and contracts) provide for the conduct of
research for the purpose of determining whether and to what extent
there is a causal relationship between air pollutants and the
occurrence of asthma, allergies, and related respiratory problems.
(b) Requirement Regarding Clinical Participants.--
(1) In general.--In providing for the conduct of clinical
research under subsection (a), the Secretary shall give
priority to providing to individuals described in paragraph (2)
opportunities to undergo clinical evaluations for purposes of
the research.
(2) Relevant populations.--For purposes of paragraph (1),
the individuals referred to in this paragraph are individuals
who are residents of communities in which the average family
income is at or below 200 percent of the official poverty line,
as established by the Director of the Office of Management and
Budget and revised by the Secretary in accordance with section
673(2) of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981.
SEC. 8. COORDINATION OF FEDERAL ACTIVITIES TO ADDRESS ASTHMA-RELATED
HEALTH CARE NEEDS.
(a) In General.--The Director of the National Heart, Lung, and
Blood Institute shall, through the National Asthma Education Prevention
Program Coordinating Committee--
(1) identify all Federal programs that carry out asthma-
related activities;
(2) develop, in consultation with appropriate Federal
agencies and professional and voluntary health organizations, a
Federal plan for responding to asthma; and
(3) not later than 12 months after the date of enactment of
this Act, submit recommendations to the Congress on ways to
strengthen and improve the coordination of asthma-related
activities of the Federal Government.
(b) Representation of the Department of Housing and Urban
Development.--A representative of the Department of Housing and Urban
Development shall be included on the National Asthma Education
Prevention Program Coordinating Committee for the purpose of performing
the tasks described in subsection (a).
(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--Out of any funds otherwise
appropriated for the National Institutes of Health, $5,000,000 shall be
made available to the National Asthma Education Prevention Program for
the period of fiscal years 2006 through 2010 for the purpose of
carrying out this section. Funds made available under this subsection
shall be in addition to any other funds appropriated to the National
Asthma Education Prevention Program for any fiscal year during such
period.
SEC. 9. COMPILATION OF DATA BY CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND
PREVENTION.
The Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in
consultation with the National Asthma Education Prevention Program
Coordinating Committee, shall--
(1) conduct local asthma surveillance activities to collect
data on the prevalence and severity of asthma and the quality
of asthma management, including--
(A) telephone surveys to collect sample household
data on the local burden of asthma; and
(B) health care facility specific surveillance to
collect asthma data on the prevalence and severity of
asthma, and on the quality of asthma care; and
(2) compile and annually publish data on--
(A) the prevalence of children suffering from
asthma in each State; and
(B) the childhood mortality rate associated with
asthma nationally and in each State.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
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