Lung Action Network
of Washington & Idaho

Our Public Policy

The mission of the American Lung Association® of Washington& Idaho is to assure lung health for the people of Washington through research, education, community service, and advocacy. Our goals include reducing tobacco use, particularly among young people; preventing and controlling air pollution; and funding education and research to help people with asthma or other lung disease.

The American Lung Association® of Idaho's 2005-2006 public policy items will be published soon. Please check back. 

The American Lung Association® of Washington's 2005-2006 public policy items include the following:

Tobacco

Priority Issues

1. Protect the funding and uses approved by the people of Washington in Initiative 773 for implementation of the Tobacco Prevention and Control Plan developed by the Washington State Department of Health's citizen Tobacco Prevention and Control Council, including a $26.24 million annual appropriation, protect the dedicated funding in the Tobacco Prevention and Control Account from diversion to any other purposes, and seek increases in tobacco control funding to CDC-recommended levels.
2. Prevent further efforts to "securitize" Master Tobacco Settlement Agreement funds.
3. Encourage development of alternative revenue sources (particularly tobacco taxes and other "sin taxes") as necessary to avoid diversion of tobacco prevention program funds or further "securitization" of Master Tobacco Settlement Agreement funds.
4. Protect and ensure effective, efficient, accountable, and fair administration of the regulation of clean indoor air in public places under the Washington Clean Indoor Air Act (Chapter 70.160 RCW) as enacted in Initiative 901.
5. Decrease youth access to tobacco products, through an integrated program that would:
   1. Require all tobacco products to be sold from behind retail counters or from within locked cabinets that must be unlocked by a clerk;
   2. Restrict the sales of single cigarettes to locations where minors are not permitted;
   3. Prohibit the distribution of tobacco product samples;
   4. Improve effectiveness of Liquor Control Board regulatory activities by clarifying the Board's rulemaking authority over youth access to tobacco products; and
   5. Standardize regulation of all tobacco products, including standardizing statutory references to "tobacco products", rather than "cigarettes" where appropriate.
6. Ensure efficient, effective, accountable administration of the tobacco control and prevention program by the Washington State Department of Health, including adequate program staffing and improved results for at-risk cultural and demographic populations.
7. Require all cigarettes sold in Washington to be fire-safe and self-extinguishing, as has been done elsewhere, using existing tobacco industry technology
8. Prohibit distribution of any free samples of tobacco products, coupons, or paraphernalia.

   Long-Term and Ongoing Issues

9. Through Governor's Executive Order, expand smoking ban in state-owned and -occupied buildings, to include all buildings, properties, and / or vessels owned or leased by the state.
10. Promote medical coverage of tobacco cessation medications and services for all Washington citizens.
11. Restrict the types and locations of tobacco products advertising visible in public places.
12. Eliminate tobacco advertising in print media targeting adolescents and young adults and other at-risk cultural and demographic populations.
13. Through the State Investment Board, divest the state public pension system of all investments in companies that manufacture tobacco products.
14. Oppose any efforts to decrease current taxes on tobacco products.
15. Oppose any efforts to eliminate, weaken, or decrease current restrictions on retail sale of tobacco products to minors, smoking in public places, advertising of tobacco products, or other methods of preventing or decreasing tobacco use.
16. Advocate for education on the effects of secondhand smoke, and what individuals can do to protect themselves and their families, including resources for:
    1. Adults;
    2. Children, particularly children who suffer from asthma; and
    3. Health care professionals, including materials and community resources they can give to their patients.
17. Promote public disclosure of tobacco industry activities; such as manufacturing processes, advertising practices, lobbying activities, and campaign contributions.

    Air Quality

    Priority Issues

18. Support sufficient, dedicated funding to implement and enforce state and local air quality programs and regulations, and to improve outdoor and indoor air quality.
19. Ensure fair and representational governance of local air pollution control authorities statewide.
20. Require real property disclosure of uncertified woodstoves, and a phase-out date for use of uncertified wood stoves.
21. Establish policies that promote clean air, including clean diesel technology, clean biodiesel, low emission vehicles, zero emission vehicles and use of natural gas, electric, and hybrid vehicles, including public vehicle fleets.
22. Promote use of transportation policies, regulations, and funding that maximize air quality improvements and the impact on health, including best practices for reduction or mitigation of diesel and particulates, such as using clean diesel technology for construction vehicles and other vehicles involved in transportation projects.
23. Support legislation requiring standards for building construction, heating and ventilation systems to minimize the presence of common asthma triggers.
24. Emphasize prevention of air pollution including industrial pollution, motor vehicle emissions, agricultural burning, backyard burning, and inappropriate woodstove use.

    Long-Term and Ongoing Issues

25. Promote energy policy that encourages use of the cleanest possible options for air quality, and discourages options (such as diesel and coal-powered generators) that impair air quality improvements.
26. Support efforts to improve air quality through stronger legislation and regulations.
27. Fight weakening amendments to the Clean Air Washington Act and other air pollution control laws.
28. Support indoor air pollution legislation, including comprehensive federal legislation and regulation, radon control, and hazardous substance acts.
29. Advocate for improved indoor air quality in homes, schools and child care facilities, particularly in low-income neighborhoods where the incidence of pediatric asthma is the highest.
30. Advocate for stringent standards of outdoor air pollution, such as particulate matter and ozone, which can exacerbate asthma incidents.
31. Encourage land use and transportation planning that results in air quality improvements, including siting public buildings in a fashion that minimizes air quality impacts.
32. Ensure that the quality of the air is adequate to protect the health of the most-sensitive members of the public.
33. Promote requirements for construction of public buildings (including school buildings and state and local offices) that promote clean indoor air and prevent "sick buildings".
34. Support strict enforcement of air pollution regulations.
35. Help inform citizens about air pollution and how they can work to prevent air pollution.
36. Support improved air quality monitoring and data management systems.

    Asthma and Lung Disease Services

    Priority Issues - Asthma

37. Support policies and procedures for purchasing of health care services by all state agencies that reduce administrative expenses, improve management of chronic disease such as asthma, and increase the state's ability to purchase services at reasonable prices.
38. Ensure efficient, effective, accountable administration of the asthma program by the Washington State Department of Health and other state agencies, including adequate program staffing. Support implementation of Senate Bill 5841, legislation requiring DOH to collect data on the prevalence of asthma, identify populations disproportionately affected and describe successful strategies for diagnosis, prevention and treatment.
39. Advocate for coverage of asthma management education as part of patient treatment plans.
40. Advocate for all health insurance plans to provide coverage for asthma management, including nebulizers for medication delivery, peak flow meters to monitor peak expiratory flow, spacers for inhaled medication delivery, mattress/pillow covers and smoking cessation services.
41. Advocate for health plans to make appropriate exceptions to medications for the treatment of asthma including appropriate and timely medication substitutions.
42. Advocate for adequate funding to fully implement the state asthma plan.

    Priority Issues - Tuberculosis

43. Support funding for the identification and management of individuals with latent tuberculosis.
44. Support funding for tuberculosis prevention, provider education and treatment.

    Priority Issues - Other

45. Support legislation and funding to ensure affordable access to quality health care services for all individuals with asthma and other lung diseases, including Medicaid and Basic Health Plan services for low-income persons with lung disease, and including development of alternative revenue sources (particularly tobacco taxes and other "sin taxes") as necessary to achieve these goals. These services should also include reimbursement for education, pulmonary rehabilitation and other supportive services for people with lung disease.
46. Advocate for strong policies, and adequate and secure funding, at the state and local level for public health funding, including funding to compensate for local public health funds cut by I-695, funding for tuberculosis prevention, provider education, and treatment, and development of alternative revenue sources (particularly tobacco taxes and other "sin taxes") as necessary to achieve these goals.

    Long-Term and Ongoing Issues

47. Support legislation to ensure favorable public policies to eliminate lung disease caused or exacerbated by exposure to workplace hazards.
48. Advocate for and support policies to ensure people with lung disease have appropriate access and ability to lead fully functional lives. Support legislation and policies providing access to portable oxygen during air travel.