Allergy & Asthma Day on Capitol Hill

Allergy & Asthma Network invites patients, families, caregivers, health professionals and industry partners from across the country to join us for Allergy & Asthma Day Capitol Hill (AADCH) in Washington, DC.

During AADCH, advocates visit Capitol Hill to meet with members of Congress and their staff to…

• Discuss federal legislative and regulatory issues.
• Share personal stories of managing their condition.
• Urge passage of legislation affecting people with asthma, allergies, and related conditions.

Our advocates represent the patient voice at these meetings to ensure their needs are addressed in legislation.

In addition, every year Allergy & Asthma Network hosts a Congressional Lunch Briefing, one of the signature events of AADCH. Members of Congress are often in attendance to speak about asthma, allergies, and other health issues, and to support our policy priorities.

Invited speakers at Congressional Lunch Briefing represent:

• Congressional Asthma and Allergy Caucus
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ National Institutes of Health
• American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI)
• Patient testimonials

Check out the AADCH 2024 agenda and speaker lineup (PDF)

Highlights from May 2023 AADCH:

• 100+ advocates attended in person and participated in 90+ meetings with members of Congress on May 3.
• A record-setting 1,500+ advocates participated in our online campaign, sending 3,500 emails to members of Congress from May 2-5.
• 2023 Policy Priorities included:

1. 1. Improve access to safe, affordable medical care and innovative treatments.
   2. Maintain asthma and allergy funding for programs supported by federal agencies.
   3. Reduce health risks for asthma and severe allergy emergencies.
   4. Reduce environmental health hazards to support lung health.
   5. Improve health equity.

• Advocates urged members of Congress to support 4 key bills: Safe Step Act, HELP Copays Act, Protecting Children with Food Allergies Act and One School One Nurse Act. Check out asthma and allergy legislation we support and take action today!
• Advocates also urged federal agencies and Congress to clarify sesame allergy labeling as part of the FASTER Act, which became law in January 2023.
• At the Congressional Lunch Briefing, advocates heard about efforts to make medications more affordable, the impact of climate change, the importance of increasing Black representation in the field of allergy and immunology, and ongoing research involving genetics and allergic diseases.