Rep. TJ Cox Secures Additional Investments in Asthma and Health Care
December 19, 2019
Press Release
Rep. Cox worked with Asthma and Allergy Caucus colleagues to secure funding for National Asthma Control Program and other key health care priorities through Appropriations process
On Tuesday, the House of Representatives passed a pair of key Fiscal Year 2020 funding bills (H.R. 1865 and H.R. 1158), also called “minibus bills.” Rep. TJ Cox (CA-21) has been very active in this process, fighting for Central Valley priorities often ignored in the funding process. Without legislative action to authorize necessary operating expenses, the government was set to shut down on December 20th. A shutdown would have resulted in a freeze in military pay, critical health and safety programs across the country being halted, and billions of dollars in lost revenue from the economy.
The bill – H.R. 1865, Division A -- funds $30 million for the National Asthma Control Program to help those with Asthma better control and treat their complex medical condition.
“As a proud member of the bipartisan Asthma and Allergy Caucus, I secured an additional $1 million in funding for the National Asthma Control Program,” said Rep. TJ Cox. “Asthma is far too common in the Central Valley, with our kids missing school and parents missing work due to Asthma, we must do more. That is why I have introduced four bills that help those with Asthma best manage their condition.”
Rep. Cox has prioritized asthma treatment and has introduced:
H.R. 2508, Better Respiration through Expanding Access to Tele-Health (BREATHE) Act, to help respiratory therapists provide telehealth services to those with Asthma and COPD;
H.R. 4548, Asthma Care and Prevention in Rural Communities Act, to help those in rural communities with Asthma get access to critical care and services;
H.R. 4716, Inhaler Coverage and Access Now (I CAN) Act, to make inhaler medication more accessible for families with a high-deductible health plan; and
H.R. 5230, Elijah E. Cummings Family Asthma Act, which is the Asthma and Allergy Caucus flagship bill, that expands federal, state, and local efforts to improve care for individuals with asthma.
“I am committed to helping people get the care and support they need to stay out of hospitals and in their communities,” said Rep. TJ Cox.
The bill included $1.44 billion for the Impact Aid program, which will help schools on federal lands like Central Union School District with schools at NAS Lemoore.
“All students deserve to have every opportunity to succeed, that includes a safe environment to learn in,” said Rep. TJ Cox, “ That’s why I secured an additional $40 million to the Impact Aid program, and introduced H.R. 3647 Impact Aid Infrastructure Act that provides a one-time set of funds to help schools get projects underway.”
This bill includes funding for community health centers with $50 million set aside for a new AIDS initiative.
“Community Centers are the backbone of the Central Valley providing care to people when they need it, where they need it,” said Rep. TJ Cox.
This bill funds a 6.7% increase in funds to the NIH over last year.
“I supported an increase in funding to the NIH so they can continue their ground breaking research. Most of the drugs we use today that are manufactured by big pharma companies started in the labs of the NIH,” said Rep. TJ Cox.
This bill funds $5.9 billion for Substance Use and Mental Health Services, $140 million over last years bill.
“As a member on the bipartisan Freshman Working Group on Addiction, we worked to secure additional funding to stomp out this crisis from our communities,” said Rep. TJ Cox.
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