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Nearly ten years ago, Senator Michael Crapo (R-ID) stood before the COPD community at the First National COPD Conference and challenged individuals with COPD, healthcare providers, caregivers and others to organize advocates in all 435 Congressional Districts. In return, he said he would organize his colleagues in both the Senate and the House of Representatives to form the Congressional COPD Caucus.

This past December, Senator Crapo once again stood before the COPD community at the Second National COPD Conference and proudly declared Phase One of both missions accomplished. He was quick to remind us that there is still a great deal that must be done before we can declare victory.

The COPD Foundation congratulates the entire COPD community; you have accomplished so much since the first challenge in 2003. Here are a few of the milestones that have been reached in the years between the First and Second National COPD Conferences:

• The COPD Foundation was created in 2004.
• Senator Crapo founded the Congressional COPD Caucus in 2004.
• The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute’s Learn More, Breathe Better Campaign was launched in 2007.
• The Mobile Spirometry Unit was created in 2007 and began traveling the country, spreading awareness and screening at-risk individuals.
• Operation435 and the COPD Action Center were created in 2009 and both provide a vehicle for thousands of COPD advocates to communicate with elected officials.
• The DRIVE4COPD Campaign was launched in 2010 and has since screened over 2 million at-risk individuals for COPD.
• Airlines now allow individuals with COPD to bring portable oxygen concentrators as carry-on luggage, pulmonary rehabilitation has become a national Medicare benefit and all 50 states are collecting data on how COPD affects their residents.

During the Second National COPD Conference, Senator Crapo posed a new challenge to the COPD community.

He said the only way elected officials can understand the challenges faced by individuals with COPD is to hear directly from you.

Senator Crapo challenged us to reach out to our elected officials in the House and the Senate and demand that they officially become members of the Congressional COPD Caucus.

Senator Crapo is proud of what the COPD Caucus has been able to accomplish and is eager to see the progress that can be made if you work to ensure your elected officials join him in making the COPD Caucus the largest and strongest on Capitol Hill.

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