[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 9075]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   HONORING THE AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION ON ITS 100 YEAR ANNIVERSARY

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                          HON. HENRY A. WAXMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 11, 2004

  Mr. WAXMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the American 
Lung Association on the occasion of its 100th year anniversary. Over 
the past century, the American Lung Association has played a vital role 
in protecting public health and shaping public policy in this country 
and worldwide. We all live in a safer and healthier world thanks to the 
diligent efforts of the American Lung Association and its many staff 
and volunteers.
  The American Lung Association developed the Nation's very first 
public health campaign, and it has been on the forefront of public 
health ever since. I have had the great privilege of working closely 
with representatives of the American Lung Association for more than 20 
years, and I have seen first hand their role in shaping national policy 
to improve public health. As the former chair of the Health and 
Environment Subcommittee, I frequently heard testimony from American 
Lung Association witnesses who provided important information regarding 
a wide range of health issues--ranging from the devastating health 
effects of tobacco to the importance of curbing asthma to the fight for 
clean air.
  For more than 40 years, the American Lung Association has been the 
leader in the battle against tobacco-related lung disease. The 
association played a critical role in the shaping of the 1990s 
settlement between the tobacco industry and the states. When the 
industry proposed a weak settlement with state attorneys general in 
1997, the American Lung Association stepped forward to oppose granting 
immunity to the tobacco companies. That courageous stand made way for 
the development of an improved settlement that had a real effect on 
tobacco control efforts.
  The American Lung Association has brought an important public health 
perspective to the fight against air pollution. In the 1990s, the 
association led the battle for tougher ozone and particulate standards 
under the Clean Air Act. And more recently, over the past 3 years, the 
American Lung Association has focused attention on challenging EPA 
plans to weaken Clean Air Act requirements. These efforts to preserve 
and strengthen the Clean Air Act have enabled all Americans to breathe 
more freely.
  From tobacco control to air pollution prevention to asthma research 
to continuing efforts to eradicate tuberculosis, the American Lung 
Association has made key contributions to this country. It is my 
pleasure to salute the association on its anniversary and ask my 
colleagues to join with me. We all owe the association a debt of 
gratitude for its work, and I look forward to seeing what it can 
achieve in the century to come.

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