Summer, 1999
Vol. 6, No. 1

This is a portion of the American Lung Association of Los Angeles County's 1998 Breath Takes. ?If you would like to receive a complete copy, please call the American Lung Association at
or (800) LUNG-USA.

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California Senate Bill 1111 (Sher) proposes to address asthma as a public health issue and create a comprehensive program under the California Department of Health Services. This legislation aims to provide for state-funded research of the disease, developing models to prevent asthma, treating populations that suffer disproportionately, and implementing pediatric asthma management policies for school districts.

Asthma has increased 75% in California between 1984 and 1998, and is the leading cause of school absenteeism among children, responsible for 10 million lost school days a year nationwide. More than 600 Californians die each year from asthma.

ALALAC is leveraging many resources to actively support this bill At Asthma Camp this year, the children signed a banner addressed to Governor Davis and parents signed postcards. We urge all supporters of ALALAC to write, call, or e-mail their state legislator and ask for their help in supporting this important legislation.

ALALAC is also actively supporting the 1999 Health Schools Act (AB 1207). This legislation will protect California school children from pesticides and other environmental health threats. It would require schools to eliminate the use of pesticides known to cause cancer, test for lead and radon, and provide schools with the training and materials necessary to attain minimum environmental health standards.

On the tobacco front, ALALAC has joined a planning group to develop a consensus on allocating funds from the 1998 global tobacco settlement. Los Angeles County will receive approximately $100-$135 million annually over the next 25 years as result of this settlement. Other members of the group include the Community Health Council, Inc., the City of Los Angeles Commission of Children, Youth K Families, the Hispanic Latino Tobacco Education Network, Charles Drew University, and the Asian Pacific Health Care Venture, among others. Our goal is to ensure that the tobacco settlement funds are used primarily for tobacco education and health programs.

(Updated 10/05/99)

When You Can't Breathe, Nothing Else Matters ^?
The mission of the American Lung Association of Los Angeles County
is to prevent and eliminate lung disease
and to improve the quality of life and health of those with lung disease.
Your contributions to Christmas Seals^? and Chanukah Seals^? help make the difference.

For more information on lung health, programs, and special events,
call ? ? (or ? ; ? ; ?1-800-LUNG-USA), ? or send us email.
? 1999 American Lung Association of Los Angeles County