Parker Griffith

Mr. GRIFFITH

Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I might consume. Mr. Chairman, this amendment would instruct State educational agencies on how improvements in indoor environmental quality can help reduce asthma and other respiratory illnesses in the classroom and in our children. Asthma has reached an epidemic proportion in our country, affecting 20 million of all ages, but children in particular. I have two good friends who lost children due to asthma-related attacks at school. We must do everything we can to help improve air quality for our students so no one else ever has to suffer this tragic loss. Almost 1 in 13 children the age of 18 has asthma, and the percentage of children with this illness is rising more rapidly with our preschoolers than in any other age group. Asthma is the leading cause of missed school days due to chronic illnesses, causing our kids to miss more than 14 million days of school. When our children are absent, they are no longer able to keep up; falling behind. And American can no longer afford this. Our children also get left behind when their teachers and school staff are sick. We cannot sit on the sidelines and handicap our schools by failing to address the detrimental effect of poor indoor air quality on our students' concentration, attendance, and performance in school. This is an easily fixable situation. The adoption of this amendment would help improve indoor air quality and better the lives of 56 million Americans who spend their days in elementary and secondary schools. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Chairman, I thank my colleague. I am happy to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Teague).

Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Chairman, I thank my colleagues from California, and would yield 1 minute of my time to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Andrews).

Mr. GRIFFITH. I thank my colleague from New Jersey. Mr. Chairman, I ask that my colleagues support this amendment and the underlying bill. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.