Advocacy

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Asthma and Allergy Advocacy Action Center

You can help the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) advocate for the over 100 million people in the United States with asthma and allergies. An AAFA advocate is someone who stands up for people with asthma and allergies.

We need people to help us fight for:

We need help to get the word out about critical issues. Together, we can save lives.

ACT NOW

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AAFA’s Key Policy Issues and Guiding Principles

Every day, your health care involves decisions made by you, your doctor, your family, your caregivers and by policymakers. AAFA’s patient-centered principles guide our policy and advocacy efforts on behalf of those with asthma and allergies. These principles reflect our deep commitment to evidence-based decision-making.

Download PDF

AAFA’s Guiding Principles for Patient-Centered Public Policy Download PDF

AAFA supports public policies that will help people with asthma and allergies. Advocacy and public policy work are important for protecting the health and safety of those with asthma and allergies. We advocate for federal and state legislation as well as regulatory actions that will help you. We are working to make sure you have access to high quality, affordable, evidence-based care and treatments.

AAFA collaborates with our community and other stakeholders to help shape laws and regulations that affect people with asthma and allergies. We work to ensure people with asthma and allergies have high quality health care, access to treatment options, and live in healthy settings. Priority issues vary from year to year, but in general include the following key priorities:

  • Access to Health Care: Promote access to affordable, quality healthcare for the diagnosis, treatment, and management of asthma and allergies
  • Access to Medications: Promote access to affordable medicines, improve drug assistance programs, and ensure students have their asthma/allergy medicines at school
  • Climate and Health: Support community resiliency and readiness and improve clean air standards
  • Food Allergies: Implement guidelines-based care in child care settings, improve food allergen labeling, and fund food allergy research
  • Healthy Settings: Improve accommodations and access to healthy settings in homes, schools, and workplaces; promote better indoor air quality
  • Health Disparities: Support health equity to improve care and save lives
  • Federal Funding: Continue funding for basic, clinical, preventive and health services research; promote prevention, screening, and lifestyle interventions that help people with asthma and allergies
How Can I Advocate for People With Asthma and Allergies?

Advocacy is speaking out on issues that you care about or offering your opinion and suggestions for how to improve something to the people who are in control. It is important for policymakers to hear directly from you about your experiences.

Together, we need to find ways to address the complicated questions and issues related to asthma and allergies. You can take several steps to advocate for people with allergies and asthma right now.

There are many ways you can be an advocate.

  • Visit your state and federal representatives at their district offices.
  • Call or write your governor.
  • Write to the editor of your local paper about asthma and allergies.
  • Start a patient, family, or caregiver group in your area.

You can also use one of our advocacy toolkits to help guide you:

Download PDFs

Modernizing Epinephrine Stocking Laws Download PDF

Child Care Policies for Food Allergy: Elijah’s Law Report for U.S. States and Territories Download PDF (toolkit starts on page 16)

2024 Asthma Capitals™ – Most Challenging Places to Live with AsthmaDownload PDF(toolkit starts on page 34)

2025 State Honor Roll™ of Asthma and Allergy Policies for SchoolsDownload PDF (toolkit starts on page 22)

Who Can I Contact About Asthma and Allergy Advocacy?

Do you have advocacy-related questions or comments? Are you interested in joining AAFA to speak or testify on issues that impact our community?

Contact AAFA’s Advocacy team at aafa.org/advocacyteam