Each year, Congress passes appropriations bills that allocate federal spending for each department and agency in the government. In conjunction with these bills, Congress adopts accompanying reports that provide federal agencies with more specific instructions on implementing the programs within their jurisdiction. Submitting report language is an effective way to have Congress weigh in on important issues without passing separate legislation.
This year, AARC is submitting report language asking for a study on respiratory therapist workforce shortages and the impact of these shortages on patients with chronic respiratory diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
We need your help to reach out to your members of Congress in support of including this report language in the report accompanying the Fiscal Year 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies appropriations bill. Please send this action alert to your members of Congress to ensure that patients with chronic respiratory disease have appropriate access to respiratory therapists.&nbsp;

As your constituent, I am writing to ask for your boss’ support of report language to support a study of the impact of respiratory therapist shortages on patients with chronic respiratory diseases in the report accompanying the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies appropriations bill. The below report language would request the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct a study on how respiratory therapist shortages will impact access to respiratory services for patients with chronic respiratory diseases and to report back to Congress within 18 months on the result of the study: Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Secretary The Committee recognizes the importance of respiratory therapists to provide care to patients with chronic respiratory diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). There is concern with shortages of respiratory therapists and the impact that this would have on access to care for patients. The Committee asks the GAO to conduct a study on how respiratory therapist shortages will impact access to respiratory services for patients with chronic respiratory diseases. The Committee requests that the study be conducted within 18 months and reported back to Congress. 

Please support the inclusion of this report language in the report accompanying the FY 2026 Labor-HHS appropriations bill. It is critical to ensure that patients with chronic respiratory diseases have access to respiratory therapists to help manage their ongoing and chronic conditions. Thank you for your consideration.

Contact Your Representative

Message

Dear Office Holder (names will be automatically added on each email),