Speeches - By Date

As you know, asthma has grown to epidemic proportions in our country. Over 6 million children under the age of 18 suffer from asthma B a number that has doubled over the past two decades. In Florida, more than 300,000 children are currently battling asthma.

Asthma is the leading cause of school absenteeism B accounting for 14 million missed school days a year nationwide, and it is one of the leading causes of hospitalization for children under the age of 15.

Today, I = ve had the opportunity to meet some of the children and families who are directly affected by this illness. I want to assure you that we are meeting asthma head on in our efforts to reduce the number of children who suffer from this disease. While we do not know all the causes of asthma, we do know that air pollution can make asthma worse.

That is why this Administration = s work to improve outdoor air quality, especially the President = s Clear Skies Act, will have a direct impact on children suffering from asthma. Clear Skies is the most significant improvement to the Clean Air Act in more than a decade and the most aggressive proposal any Administration has ever made to reduce emissions from power plants.

Clear Skies will achieve mandatory reductions of 70% of three of the most dangerous pollutants emitted by power plants B nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and mercury. We will remove 35 million more tons of these pollutants from the air over the first ten years of Clear Skies than the current Clean Air Act would achieve in that same time frame. This will provide dramatic health benefits to the American people every year, including preventing 12,000 premature deaths and reducing by 15 million the days when sufferers of asthma and other respiratory illnesses are unable to work, go to school, or carry out their normal day to day activities because of bad air quality.

Right here in Florida, we estimate that under Clear Skies there will be at least 26,000 fewer asthma attacks, and 800,000 fewer instances of respiratory-related symptoms each year. The President has made it clear that signing this bill into law is one of his top domestic priorities, and that is because Clear Skies is a clear win for the American people B especially for our children with asthma.

It = s also important to point out that though most of us think of outdoor air when we think of air pollution, indoor air pollution can be just as harmful. That is why EPA is working to ensure greater indoor air quality through programs such as Tools for Schools and the National Asthma Awareness campaign, which help school officials and parents identify indoor environmental triggers. In addition, we are also working in partnership with organizations such as the American Lung Association to lead a smoke-free home initiative. From Clear Skies to indoor air efforts, reducing the number of children who suffer from asthma is one of the top priorities of the Environmental Protection Agency and this Administration.

To support this effort, the President has requested a $3 million increase in his FY 04 budget to combat children = s asthma B raising total funding to $23.9 million. Of course, the government can only do so much, and we depend upon the work of those of you here on the front lines researching and fighting this disease. For so many children the struggle to breathe is a difficult hardship to overcome. By working together, we can help them surmount this disease and improve the quality of life for thousands of children in Florida and across our nation.

Thank you.