The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) has expressed approval after Congress restored $33.5 million in funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Asthma Control Program (NACP). The funding, which was excluded from the President’s 2026 budget proposal, will now allow the program to continue through September 2026 due to bipartisan support in Congress.
Kenneth Mendez, president and CEO of AAFA, stated, “Our community spoke up and Congress listened. The restoration of funding for the NACP makes clear that Congress understands and supports the program’s lifesaving work for people who have asthma. The NACP is exactly the kind of program that keeps people healthy and out of the hospital. The NACP helps decrease asthma mortality by 45%. For every $1 spent by NACP, there is a $71 return on investment from reduced health care and economic costs related to asthma.”
Supporters of AAFA sent over 2,200 emails to members of Congress advocating for continued support and funding for NACP.
The National Asthma Control Program remains the only federal initiative focused on monitoring, managing, and preventing asthma nationwide. It provides essential resources to state-level asthma programs in 29 states as well as national initiatives through four non-governmental organizations.
Melanie Carver, AAFA’s chief mission officer, commented on the importance of continuing this work: “The NACP is a perfect example of a federal program that works. On behalf of the 28 million people in the United States with asthma, we are thrilled to see this program continue. We now turn our attention to next year’s budget and call on Congress to fund – and even expand funding for – NACP in the 2027 budget cycle.”
Founded in 1953, AAFA describes itself as a leading nonprofit patient organization dedicated to reducing disease burden for those with asthma or allergies through research, education, advocacy, and support services. More information about their programs can be found at https://aafa.org/ and https://kidswithfoodallergies.org/.
