AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION
55 W WACKER DRIVE, CHICAGO, IL 60601 www.lung.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: THE AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION'S MISSION IS TO SAVE LIVES BY IMPROVING LUNG HEALTH AND PREVENTING LUNG DISEASE. WE DO THIS THROUGH EDUCATION, ADVOCACY, AND RESEARCH.

THE MISSION OF THE ALA IS TO SAVE LIVES BY IMPROVING LUNG HEALTH AND PREVENTING LUNG DISEASE.

LUNG CANCER, ASTHMA, LUNG DISEASE AND TOBACCO CONTROL: LUNG DISEASE IS THE THIRD LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IN AMERICA. COPD ALONE IS THE FOURTH LEADING DISEASE-RELATED CAUSE OF DEATH AND, AND LUNG CANCER KILLS MORE PEOPLE THAN ANY OTHER CANCER. THE EMERGENCE OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND THE URGENT NEED TO ADDRESS RACIAL HEALTH DISPARITIES ADDED NEW, WIDESPREAD THREATS TO LUNG HEALTH, MAKING THE MISSION OF THE AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER. EVERY DAY, THE LUNG ASSOCIATION WORKS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE NEED TO PRIORITIZE LUNG DISEASE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT, TO PROVIDE CAREGIVER SUPPORT, AND TO RAISE FUNDS FOR RESEARCH, TO BENEFIT THE 326+ MILLION AMERICANS WITH LUNGS. COVID-19 IS A LUNG DISEASE, AND AS AMERICA'S TRUSTED CHAMPION FOR LUNG HEALTH, WE RECOGNIZED THE URGENCY OF THE RAPIDLY GROWING CRISIS, AND TOOK SWIFT ACTION TO REDUCE SUFFERING AND SAVE AMERICAN LIVES. IN EARLY APRIL, WITH THE CRISIS STILL REVEALING ITS TRUE SEVERITY, WE LAUNCHED OUR COVID-19 ACTION INITIATIVE. GUIDED BY OUR THREE PILLARS OF RESEARCH, EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY, THIS BOLD INITIATIVE IS COMMITTING $25M TO END COVID-19 AND DEFEND AGAINST FUTURE RESPIRATORY VIRUSES. WE CREATED SCORES OF EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS TO HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE VIRUS, HOW TO STAY SAFE AND WHAT TO DO IF YOU BECOME ILL. WE HOUSED IT ALL IN A COMPREHENSIVE "ONE-STOP SHOP" - LUNG.ORG/COVID19 - WHICH WE CONTINUALLY UPDATED AS OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THIS NEW VIRUS GREW. RESOURCES INCLUDED OUR COVID-19 TOWN HALL SERIES, FAQ'S, DOWNLOADABLE FACT SHEETS, A STREAM OF COVID-19 ENTRIES ON OUR EACH BREATH BLOG AND MUCH MORE. BECAUSE OF COVID-19, OUR IN-PERSON HEALTH EDUCATION AND SUPPORT ACTIVITIES HAD TO GO VIRTUAL. WE QUICKLY PIVOTED TO ONLINE CLASSES, INCLUDING OUR BETTER BREATHER'S CLUBS, FREEDOM FROM SMOKING SESSIONS AND ASTHMA EDUCATOR INSTITUTE. WE WORKED ON MULTIPLE FRONTS TO STEER OUR GOVERNMENT TO PUT THE WELLBEING OF THE PUBLIC AND ESPECIALLY OUR CRITICAL HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS FIRST. WE LED A PUSH BY OVER 200 ORGANIZATIONS CALLING FOR ADEQUATE PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE), SUCH AS MASKS, FACE SHIELDS AND GOWNS FOR OUR CRITICAL HEALTH WORKERS. WE ALSO ADVOCATED FOR MUCH NEEDED HEALTHCARE COVERAGE POLICIES, SUCH AS INCREASED MEDICAID FUNDS, NO-COST COVERAGE OF COVID-19 TESTS AND VACCINES, THE ELIMINATION OF SURPRISE MEDICAL BILLS AND MORE. WE CHAMPIONED A PUBLIC HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE FOR INDEPENDENT, SCIENCE-BASED PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCIES AND EXPANDED TELEHEALTH POLICIES TO ALLOW FOR CONTINUED ACCESS TO NEEDED CARE DURING THE PANDEMIC. WE FOCUSED ON WORK THAT WOULD IMPROVE RACIAL HEALTH INEQUITIES, AND PROVIDED THOUSANDS OF FREE FACE MASKS TO COMMUNITIES IN NEED.EVEN AS THE LUNG ASSOCIATION ACTED TO ADDRESS COVID-19, WE CONTINUED TO FOCUS ON ALL LUNG DISEASES, SUCH AS LUNG CANCER. LUNG CANCER IS THE #1 CANCER KILLER IN THE U.S., AND DESPITE ITS UNDENIABLE IMPACT ON OUR NATION, THE DISEASE OFTEN REMAINS IN THE SHADOWS. OUR LUNG FORCE INITIATIVE IS MAKING REAL PROGRESS IN CHANGING THAT. MORE PEOPLE ARE SURVIVING LUNG CANCER THAN EVER BEFORE, BUT WE HAVE MORE WORK TO BE DONE TO RAISE AWARENESS, INCREASE RESEARCH FUNDING, AND PROVIDE EDUCATION AND SUPPORT FOR PATIENTS AND CAREGIVERS. THE AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION CONTINUES TO LEAD ON ALL FRONTS. RELEASED IN NOVEMBER 2019, FOR LUNG CANCER AWARENESS MONTH, OUR SECOND ANNUAL "STATE OF LUNG CANCER" REPORT SHOWED HOW THE TOLL OF LUNG CANCER VARIES BY STATE AND EXAMINED KEY INDICATORS THROUGHOUT THE U.S. INCLUDING: NEW CASES, SURVIVAL, EARLY DIAGNOSIS, SURGICAL TREATMENT, LACK OF TREATMENT AND SCREENING RATES. KEY TAKEAWAY: STATES MUST DO MORE TO PROTECT THEIR RESIDENTS FROM LUNG CANCER.IN MARCH, WE CELEBRATED FIVE YEARS OF LUNG FORCE ADVOCACY DAY THROUGH AN INNOVATIVE VIRTUAL EVENT THAT UNITED LUNG FORCE HEROES FROM ACROSS THE NATION TO REMOTELY MEET WITH MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND ASK THEM TO SUPPORT $44.7 BILLION FOR THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH (NIH) AND TO ENSURE THAT CURRENT HEALTHCARE PROTECTIONS, INCLUDING THOSE FOR PATIENTS WITH PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS, WILL CONTINUE. THIS YEAR, OUR LUNG FORCE "SAVED BY THE SCAN" CAMPAIGN, CREATED IN COLLABORATION WITH THE AD COUNCIL, CONTINUED TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE BENEFITS OF EARLY DETECTION THROUGH LUNG CANCER SCREENING, AND TO DATE 500,000+ PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN THE QUIZ TO SEE IF THEY'RE ELIGIBLE FOR SCREENING. WE ALSO FUNDED 27 PROMISING LUNG CANCER RESEARCH PROJECTS, INCLUDING OUR LUNG CANCER DISCOVERY AWARDS, INNOVATION AWARDS, THE PRIORITY IMPACT AWARD AND THE LUNG CANCER INTERCEPTION "DREAM TEAM, " IN COLLABORATION WITH STAND UP TO CANCER AND THE LUNGEVITY FOUNDATION.EVERY YEAR, THE LUNG ASSOCIATION HELPS PEOPLE UNDERSTAND AND MANAGE THEIR LUNG DISEASE, OVERCOME THEIR NICOTINE ADDICTION AND LIVE HEALTHIER LIVES. THIS YEAR THAT WORK TOOK MANY FORMS, SUCH AS HELPING PATIENTS UNDERSTAND AND MANAGE THEIR CONDITIONS, OR MAKE CRITICAL TREATMENT DECISIONS. IT ALSO FOCUSED ON ENSURING THAT THEY HAVE AFFORDABLE, QUALITY HEALTHCARE AND INVESTING IN RESEARCH TO FIND BETTER WAYS TO PREVENT, TREAT OR EVEN CURE LUNG DISEASES LIKE ASTHMA, COPD AND NOW COVID-19.ASTHMA MAKES BREATHING DIFFICULT FOR MILLIONS OF AMERICANS, INCLUDING 5.5 MILLION CHILDREN. THIS YEAR WE LAUNCHED KICKIN' ASTHMA, AN ASTHMA MANAGEMENT PROGRAM FOR KIDS AGES 11 - 16 THAT EDUCATES AND EMPOWERS THEM THROUGH A FUN AND INTERACTIVE APPROACH TO ASTHMA SELF-MANAGEMENT. KICKIN' ASTHMA ADDS EVEN MORE TO OUR ROBUST ARSENAL OF ASTHMA TOOLS AND RESOURCES, LIKE ASTHMA BASICS, OPEN AIRWAYS FOR SCHOOLS, AN ASTHMA ACTION PLAN AND MORE. HELPING SMOKERS QUIT AND REDUCING EVERYONE'S EXPOSURE TO SECONDHAND SMOKE ARE ESSENTIAL PARTS OF OUR MISSION. THIS YEAR, THE TEEN VAPING EPIDEMIC BECAME A NATIONAL CONCERN AND A WAVE OF SERIOUS LUNG INJURIES AND DEATHS, IN BOTH YOUTH AND ADULTS, FROM E-CIGARETTE USE, CALLED EVALI (E-CIGARETTE OR VAPING USE-ASSOCIATED LUNG INJURY), SWEPT THE COUNTRY. THE LUNG ASSOCIATION RESPONDED WITH SEVERAL INNOVATIVE INITIATIVES TO STEER PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY TEENS, AWAY FROM E-CIGARETTES. IN SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, OUR PROGRAMS LIKE NOT-ON-TOBACCO, THE VAPE TALK AND THE NEWLY LAUNCHED INDEPTH PROGRAM HELPED STEM THE YOUTH VAPING EPIDEMIC. AS MORE AND MORE STUDENTS WERE BEING DISCIPLINED OR SUSPENDED FOR VAPING AT SCHOOL, OUR INNOVATIVE INDEPTH PROGRAM OFFERED SCHOOLS AN ALTERNATIVE TO SUSPENSION THAT HELPED THEM ADDRESS THE TEEN VAPING PROBLEM IN A MORE SUPPORTIVE WAY. IN FY20 WE ALSO BUILT OUT OUR MAJOR END THE YOUTH VAPING EPIDEMIC INITIATIVE, WHICH WAS READY FOR A SPRING LAUNCH, BUT DELAYED BECAUSE OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. THIS INITIATIVE, WHICH IS NOW ACTIVE, AIMS TO END THE YOUTH VAPING EPIDEMIC WITH AN INTEGRATED, MULTI-COMPONENT APPROACH TO SUPPORT PARENTS, SCHOOLS AND STUDENTS. COMPONENTS INCLUDE "GET YOUR HEAD OUT OF THE CLOUD," A YOUTH VAPING AWARENESS CAMPAIGN FROM THE AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION AND THE AD COUNCIL, MEDICAL RESEARCH ON THE HEALTH EFFECTS OF VAPING, OUR NEW VAPE-FREE SCHOOLS INITIATIVE TO HELP SCHOOL EDUCATORS NAVIGATE YOUTH VAPING, A TARGETED ADVOCACY PLAN TO IMPACT TOBACCO POLICIES AND MORE.THE PROLIFERATION OF FRUIT AND CANDY FLAVORED E-CIGARETTES THAT WERE ATTRACTING YOUTH AT ALARMING NUMBERS WARRANTED A DECEMBER 2019 SUMMIT AT THE WHITE HOUSE. THE LUNG ASSOCIATION'S PRESIDENT AND CEO PARTICIPATED, ALONG WITH OTHER PUBLIC HEALTH LEADERS. THE RESULT WAS A FEDERAL PLAN TO REMOVE FLAVORED VAPING PRODUCTS FROM THE MARKET. OUR TOBACCO ADVOCACY PAID OFF WITH STEADY PROGRESS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. IN RESPONSE TO OUR LEGAL ACTIONS, FDA WAS ORDERED TO ISSUE ITS RULE ON CIGARETTE GRAPHIC WARNING LABELS. FDA FINALLY SET A DEADLINE FOR E-CIGARETTE MANUFACTURERS TO FILE PREMARKET TOBACCO PRODUCT APPLICATIONS IN ORDER FOR THEIR PRODUCTS TO REMAIN ON THE MARKET. FIRST MASSACHUSETTS AND THEN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PASSED BILLS PROHIBITING FLAVORED TOBACCO PRODUCTS. ON DECEMBER 16, CONGRESS PASSED A BIPARTISAN BILL RAISING THE LEGAL AGE FOR SALE OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS, ACROSS THE COUNTRY, TO 21, SOMETHING THE LUNG ASSOCIATION ADVOCATED FOR INTENSELY.

RESEARCH:FOR MORE THAN 115 YEARS, THE AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION HAS FOCUSED ON DRIVING EXCELLENCE AND INNOVATION THROUGH RESEARCH. THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC MADE RESEARCH EVEN MORE URGENT. WE LAUNCHED OUR COVID-19 ACTION INITIATIVE, WITH RESEARCH OF CORONAVIRUSES A KEY COMPONENT. WE RAPIDLY EXPANDED OUR CORONAVIRUS RESEARCH, AND HAVE SINCE BUILT AN IMPRESSIVE FOUNDATION OF COVID-19 RESEARCH, FUNDING AWARDS AND GRANTS FOR PREVENTATIVE RESEARCH, VACCINES, AND ANTIVIRALS AS WELL AS PROVIDING PILOT GRANTS TO EVALUATE THE EFFECTS OF COVID-19 ON PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC LUNG DISEASE. WE FUNDED 12 RESEARCH AWARDS FOR A TOTAL OF $2.4MM FOR THE INAUGURAL COVID-19 AND RESPIRATORY VIRUS RESEARCH. IN MARCH, ONE OF OUR FUNDED RESEARCHERS, JOHN SCHOGGINS, PH.D., HELPED DISCOVER A PROTEIN THAT PLAYS A ROLE IN THE IMMUNE RESPONSE TO COVID-19 AND MIGHT LEAD TO TREATMENT OPTIONS.WE ALSO CONTINUED TO SUPPORT TRAILBLAZING RESEARCH, NOVEL IDEAS AND INNOVATIVE APPROACHES IN ALL AREAS OF LUNG DISEASE, WITH THE HOPE OF ELIMINATING LUNG DISEASE AND IMPROVING LIFE FOR THOSE LIVING WITH LUNG DISEASE. OUR RESEARCH PROGRAM INCLUDES OUR AWARDS AND GRANTS PROGRAM AND OUR EXPANDED AIRWAYS CLINICAL RESEARCH CENTERS NETWORK (ACRC), THE LARGEST NOT-FOR-PROFIT CLINICAL RESEARCH NETWORK DEDICATED TO ASTHMA AND COPD IN THE COUNTRY. THIS NETWORK CONDUCTS LARGE PATIENT-FOCUSED CLINICAL TRIALS LED BY SOME OF THE BEST INVESTIGATORS NATIONWIDE TO IMPROVE LUNG HEALTH.THIS YEAR, WE DRAMATICALLY INCREASED OUR ACRC SITES FROM 22 TO MORE THAN 35 AND HAVE EXPANDED THE ACRC NETWORK'S ONGOING RESEARCH TO ALSO INCLUDE COVID-19, ALONG WITH ITS ESTABLISHED FOCUS ON ASTHMA AND COPD. THIS YEAR, WE COMPLETED RECRUITMENT FOR THE LEEP TRIAL - THE FIRST ACRC COPD TRIAL - WHICH IS STUDYING WHETHER THE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE MEDICATION LOSARTAN SLOWS THE PROGRESSION OF EMPHYSEMA. WE ALSO QUICKLY RESPONDED TO THE PANDEMIC BY ADDING A COVID-19 STUDY TO PATIENTS ALREADY IN THIS TRIAL, ALLOWING US TO TRACK THE IMPACT OF THE PANDEMIC ON A WELL-CHARACTERIZED POPULATION OF COPD PATIENTS.OUR AWARDS AND GRANTS PROGRAM PROVIDES INVESTIGATORS (AT ALL LEVELS OF THEIR CAREER) WITH THE FUNDS TO CONDUCT NOVEL AND PROMISING RESEARCH TO PREVENT, TREAT AND EVEN CURE LUNG DISEASE. THIS YEAR, THE PROGRAM FUNDED 33 NEW AWARDEES AND 36 CONTINUING AWARDEES FOR A TOTAL OF 69 AWARDS, TOTALING OVER $8.7 MILLION IN FUNDING. OUR RESEARCH TEAM IS ENGAGED IN A WIDE RANGE OF STUDIES EXPLORING AN ARRAY OF LUNG HEALTH ISSUES, INCLUDING COVID-19, LUNG CANCER, ASTHMA, COPD, TUBERCULOSIS, INFLUENZA AND MANY MORE. THIS YEAR, THE LUNG ASSOCIATION BEGAN WORK ON ONE OF ITS LARGEST GRANTS EVER TO STUDY MILLENNIALS' LUNG HEALTH. IN LATE JUNE 2019 (THE VERY END OF THE PREVIOUS FISCAL YEAR), THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH (NIH) ANNOUNCED THAT THE LUNG ASSOCIATION HAD BEEN AWARDED A NEW $24.8 MILLION GRANT THAT BEARS OUR NAME, "THE AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION LUNG HEALTH COHORT." THROUGH THIS HISTORIC GRANT, SCIENTISTS WILL CONDUCT THE FIRST-EVER NATIONAL STUDY FOCUSED ON THE LUNG HEALTH OF MILLENNIALS. THE SCIENTISTS WILL LEVERAGE THE NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE OF OUR ACRC TO RECRUIT STUDY PARTICIPANTS FROM ITS 35+ CENTERS ACROSS THE U.S. THE LUNG HEALTH OF 4,000 HEALTHY ADULTS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 25 TO 35 WILL BE STUDIED AND MONITORED OVER SEVERAL YEARS, AND POTENTIALLY OVER THEIR LIFESPAN.FINDINGS FROM SEVERAL OF OUR AWARDS AND GRANTS STUDIES WERE PUBLISHED, INCLUDING THE WORK OF MOHAMAD ABAZEED, M.D., PH.D., WHOSE LUNG CANCER DISCOVERY AWARD STUDY HOPES TO DETERMINE A MORE EFFECTIVE WAY TO USE RADIOTHERAPY TO TREAT LUNG CANCER AND CHRIS LIM, M.S. WHO STUDIED THE HEALTH IMPACTS OF LONG-TERM EXPOSURE TO AIR POLLUTION AND EXTREME TEMPERATURES, HOW DIET COULD HELP AND THE FUTURE BURDEN OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON HUMAN HEALTH. THIS YEAR, WE LAUNCHED AND EXPANDED THE DATA AVAILABLE THROUGH OUR SERIES OF TREND BRIEFS. AFTER THE INITIAL TOBACCO BRIEF, WE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE THE ASTHMA BRIEF. THIS SHARING OF DATA ABOUT LUNG DISEASE IS CRITICAL AS A TRUSTED SOURCE FOR LUNG HEALTH INFORMATION AND TO THOSE WHO NEED TO DESCRIBE OR UNDERSTAND THE BURDEN OF LUNG DISEASE.

ADVOCACY AND ENVIRONMENTAL:EVERY YEAR THE AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION SUPPORTS POLICIES AND LEGISLATION THAT PROTECT OUR CHILDREN FROM DEADLY AIR POLLUTION AND TOBACCO PRODUCTS, SUPPORTS FUNDING FOR CRITICAL LUNG DISEASE RESEARCH AND HEALTH PROGRAMS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, AND MUCH MORE. IN FY 2020, WE PUSHED BACK AGAINST A LEGISLATIVE CLIMATE THAT POSED SERIOUS CHALLENGES TO PROTECTING HEALTHY LUNGS AND HEALTHY AIR. COVID-19 BECAME THE PARAMOUNT HEALTH ISSUE OF THE YEAR, AND WE WERE ABLE TO EFFECTIVELY HIGHLIGHT FOR THE PUBLIC AND THE MEDIA THE LINK BETWEEN AIR POLLUTION EXPOSURE AND MORE SEVERE COVID-19 OUTCOMES AND THE COMPLEX RACIAL AND ECONOMIC INEQUITIES THAT MAKE CERTAIN POPULATIONS AT EVEN HIGHER RISK OF SEVERE COVID-19 OUTCOMES.THIS YEAR, OUR HEALTHY AIR CAMPAIGN CONTINUED TO FIGHT FOR HEALTHY AIR FOR ALL AMERICANS. WE COMPLETED THE SECOND HALF OF "THE YEAR OF AIR POLLUTION AND HEALTH," A PUBLIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN THAT FOCUSED ON A DIFFERENT ASPECT OF THE HEALTH EFFECTS OF AIR POLLUTION AND CLIMATE CHANGE EACH MONTH. SPOTLIGHTS INCLUDED AIR POLLUTION FROM WILDFIRES, IMPACTS TO MOMS AND KIDS AND STATE OF THE AIR, WHICH FOCUSED ON OUR ANNUAL REPORT ON AIR QUALITY AND HEALTH IN AMERICA. WE ALSO LAID THE FOUNDATION FOR OUR "STAND UP FOR CLEAN AIR" CAMPAIGN, WHICH DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, LAUNCHED IN FY21.WE WERE THE LEAD PLAINTIFF IN THE CASE AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION V EPA CHALLENGING THE AFFORDABLE CLEAN ENERGY (ACE) RULE WHICH REPLACED 2015'S CLEAN POWER PLAN, THE FIRST FEDERAL POLICY TO REDUCE HARMFUL CARBON POLLUTION FROM POWER PLANTS. THE LUNG ASSOCIATION ALSO SUPPORTED THE CREATION OF A 30-MINUTE DOCUMENTARY TITLED "UNBREATHABLE: THE FIGHT FOR HEALTHY AIR," WHICH PREMIERED AT THE DC ENVIRONMENTAL FILM FESTIVAL ON JUNE 18. THE FILM LOOKS AT HOW FAR THE NATION HAS COME IN CLEANING UP HARMFUL AIR POLLUTION, AND THE WORK STILL LEFT TO DO TO ENSURE THAT EVERY COMMUNITY BREATHES HEALTHY AIR. WE ALSO ADVOCATED FOR MUCH NEEDED HEALTHCARE COVERAGE POLICIES, SUCH AS INCREASED MEDICAID FUNDS, NO-COST COVERAGE OF COVID-19 TESTS AND VACCINES, THE ELIMINATION OF SURPRISE MEDICAL BILLS AND MORE. WE CHAMPIONED A PUBLIC HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE FOR INDEPENDENT, SCIENCE-BASED PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCIES AND EXPANDED TELEHEALTH POLICIES TO ALLOW FOR CONTINUED ACCESS TO NEEDED CARE DURING THE PANDEMIC.OUR 21ST ANNUAL "STATE OF THE AIR" REPORT, RELEASED IN APRIL, TRACKED AMERICANS' EXPOSURE TO UNHEALTHFUL LEVELS OF PARTICLE POLLUTION AND OZONE. THE REPORT FOUND NEARLY HALF OF ALL AMERICANS WERE EXPOSED TO UNHEALTHY AIR, AND THAT CLIMATE CHANGE IS MAKING IT INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO CLEAN UP THE AIR WE BREATHE. THIS YEAR, WE EXPANDED THE REPORT, HIGHLIGHTING RACIAL DISPARITIES IN EXPOSURE TO UNHEALTHY AIR.THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, OUR TOBACCO ADVOCACY PAID OFF WITH STEADY PROGRESS. IN RESPONSE TO OUR LEGAL ACTIONS, FDA WAS ORDERED TO ISSUE ITS RULE ON CIGARETTE GRAPHIC WARNING LABELS. FIRST MASSACHUSETTS AND THEN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PASSED BILLS PROHIBITING FLAVORED TOBACCO PRODUCTS. ON DECEMBER 16, CONGRESS PASSED A BIPARTISAN BILL RAISING THE LEGAL AGE FOR SALE OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS, ACROSS THE COUNTRY, TO 21, FOR WHICH THE LUNG ASSOCIATION HAD ADVOCATED. PROTECTING QUALITY, AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE FOR ALL AMERICANS, ESPECIALLY THE MORE THAN 36.6 MILLION WITH CHRONIC LUNG DISEASE, WAS A TOP PRIORITY THIS YEAR. THIS YEAR, OUR ADVOCACY TEAM WORKED NATIONALLY AND LOCALLY TO PROTECT THAT HEALTHCARE, INCLUDING DEFENDING THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT BY ENGAGING IN THE CALIFORNIA V TEXAS CASE, LEADING THE EFFORT TO PROTECT MEDICAID COVERAGE FOR LUNG DISEASE PATIENTS, PROTECTING COVERAGE FOR PEOPLE WITH PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS, AND FIGHTING FOR CDC FUNDING FOR KEY LUNG HEALTH ISSUES. OUR ANNUAL "STATE OF TOBACCO CONTROL" REPORT RELEASED IN JANUARY 2020, GRADED STATES AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ON THE PROVEN-EFFECTIVE TOBACCO CONTROL LAWS AND POLICIES NECESSARY TO SAVE LIVES. IT FOUND THAT FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COULD DO MORE TO PROTECT KIDS FROM E-CIGARETTES AND OFFERED A ROADMAP TO ADDRESS THE YOUTH E-CIGARETTE EPIDEMIC.

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