American Lung Association Honors Rep. Upton as ‘Asthma Ally’

Today, the American Lung Association recognized Representative Fred Upton of Michigan as an “Asthma Ally.” The award, presented during the Lung Association’s LUNG FORCE Advocacy Day, recognizes Rep. Upton’s commitment to ending the terrible burden caused by asthma through his leadership as co-chair of the Congressional Asthma and Allergy Caucus, and in championing the Elijah E. Cummings Family Asthma Act as well as robust funding for the National Asthma Control Program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

"Representative Upton knows the terrible burden asthma has on both patients and caregivers and has been a champion for the nearly 25 million Americans with asthma, which includes 5.5 million children,” said American Lung Association President and CEO Harold Wimmer.  “His leadership is especially critical as our nation continues to confront the COVID-19 pandemic and the Lung Association is honored to recognize Representative Upton with our ‘Asthma Ally’ award."

Representative Upton represents Michigan’s 6th District. Among his many efforts to support people with asthma was co-sponsoring the Elijah E. Cummings Family Asthma Act, which would expand federal, state, and local efforts to improve care for individuals with asthma. This legislation expands the CDC’s National Asthma Control Program to serve all 50 states and to collaborate with state and local health departments to education the public about asthma and requires the development of state plans to address asthma, particularly for disproportionately affected communities, including Black and Latino communities.

“More than 780,000 adults in Michigan live with asthma and suffer from allergy-related health issues. On the Congressional Asthma and Allergy Caucus, we advocate for them and their families as we seek to treat these conditions and educate the public about symptoms,” said Rep. Upton. “It’s such an honor to be selected as the American Lung Association’s Asthma Ally, and I will continue to champion efforts that truly make a positive impact for all asthma and allergy patients.”

This recognition comes as part of the Lung Association’s LUNG FORCE Advocacy Day, when LUNG FORCE Heroes — those personally impacted by lung cancer — from across the country joined together virtually to ask their members of Congress to support $46.1 billion in funding at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), $10 billion in funding for the CDC and to ensure that everyone has access to affordable, adequate and accessible healthcare.

Media interested in learning more about the American Lung Association, lung health and asthma should contact Allison MacMunn at the American Lung Association at [email protected] or 312-801-7628.