What the American Lung Association of Tennessee® Does
We actively monitor lung health related efforts in the legislative and policy arenas on both state and federal levels. We organize grassroots community support from people who care about preventing lung disease and death from the use of tobacco products, unhealthy air and asthma. We promote legislation that will improve the lung health of all Tennesseans.

What can you do?
Find out what you can do to affect public policy by letting us know what lung health issues you are concerned about. Either call 1-800- 432-LUNG (5864) or send us a message by clicking here. A variety of volunteer opportunities ranging from calling or writing your legislators to express your views to participating in organized advocacy to help make policy change that affects public health are available through the Lung Association's volunteer network. Call us to find out how you can join our efforts.

The American Lung Association’s Policy Agenda

In 2002, the American Lung Association translated the goals of our strategic plan into a Work Plan consisting of Strategies, National Operational Steps, and Nationwide Alignment Steps. The Work Plan highlights the range of advocacy efforts the American Lung Association will engage in over the five-year period ending in 2007. The Public Policy Agenda is designed to highlight the top priorities for the American Lung Association’s federal advocacy. State and local advocacy efforts will continue with full support from the National Office. The American Lung Association Public Policy Positions provide a complete description of the public policy goals of the American Lung Association.

POLICY PRIORITIES

As designated by the American Lung Association Board of Directors, the public policy priorities for the 108th Congress are:

• Secure increased funding for tobacco control programs, including prevention, education and cessation, and reimbursement under Medicare/Medicaid for cessation services;
• Secure adequately funded, full, unfettered, Food and Drug Administration regulatory authority over the manufacture, sale, distribution, labeling, marketing and promotion of tobacco.
• Secure a strong, enforceable international Framework Convention on Tobacco Control;
• Secure federal support for the Asthma Clinical Research Centers;
• Secure funds to implement the development of an effective federal public health response to asthma program, including a national surveillance program;
• Defend and strengthen the Clean Air Act and its health-based National Ambient Air Quality Standards to protect the health of all Americans, including populations most at risk; and
• Increase funding for biomedical, behavioral and environmental research and research training, the public health infrastructure and health programs related to the lung, including tuberculosis and COPD.

THE AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION PUBLIC POLICY POSITIONS

• Environmental Health (December 2002)
• Asthma (December 2002)
• Lung Health (December 2002)
• Nonprofit Management (December 2002)
• Occupational Health (December 2002)
• Research (December 2002)
• Tobacco & Health (December 2002)