We are happy to announce that the School Access to Epinephrine Act, which stalled in committee during the last session of Congress, was reintroduced Wednesday, May 22, 2013.
The bill, sponsored by FARE and introduced by Rep Phil Roe (R-TN) and House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD) as HR 2094, provides incentives to states to adopt laws requiring schools to stock emergency epinephrine auto-injectors which could be used when any student suffers an anaphylactic reaction. Anaphylaxis is a severe, sometimes fatal allergic reaction that can occur when an individual comes in contact with a food or is stung by an insect that they are allergic to.
Since as many as 25% of the incidents of anaphylaxis that occur in schools do so to individuals that have no history of food allergy, the legislation would be a life-saver for students that do not have access to their prescribed auto-injector as well as those that have yet to be diagnosed.
We urge you to be an active participant in promoting the legislation. You can do so in three important ways:
- Click here to sign a petition at Change.org started by one of our readers. As of this writing, over 1,400 people have signed – consider adding your name;
- Call your federal representatives to demand passage of the bill. Let them know that you are a concerned individual, that you vote, and that you will hold them accountable if the legislation fails to pass;
- Contact your family, friends and co-workers and ask them to do likewise. Click here to download a printable flyer with the Uncle Sam graphic above and forward it as a reminder to others to take action.
With your help we can finally get this important legislation enacted and life-saving epinephrine stocked in every school!
I am so thrilled to hear a out this! I sincerely hope that the Change.org petition played some small part in urging the Congressman to take action. Let’s hope they actually pass the legislation this time!
I vote yes!! Children in school need epinephrine!!!