American Lung Association Hosts Advocacy Day in DC

CHICAGO, Sept. 22, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- The American Lung Association is hosting its fourth Respiratory Advocacy Day in Washington, D.C. on September 24, bringing together people living with chronic lung diseases from across the country to meet with members of Congress and advocate for improved access to healthcare. The event will focus on two key issues: the Supplemental Oxygen Access Reform (SOAR) Act, which aims to improve access to supplemental oxygen in Medicare, and a request for $11.6 billion in funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to support public health programs, including the National Asthma Control Program, the Office on Smoking and Health, and the National Immunization Program.

Recent events, such as the impact of wildfires, the worst flu seasons in decades, and the rise in measles cases, have highlighted the critical needs of people living with chronic respiratory diseases. The American Lung Association, the leading organization working to improve lung health and prevent diseases, is bringing these personal stories to lawmakers to advocate for change. The organization's President and CEO, Harold Wimmer, emphasized the importance of personal stories in putting a face to the challenges faced by millions of Americans living with conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and pulmonary fibrosis.

Peter S. Berger, a firefighter and paramedic who has been diagnosed with COPD, is one of the Lung Champions participating in the event. He has made it his mission to advocate for lung health since his diagnosis, and he will share his personal experience with lawmakers. In the United States, there are more than 11.1 million people with COPD, almost 28 million people with asthma (including 4.8 million children), and more than 80,000 people with pulmonary fibrosis. These individuals need strong public health programs to address chronic and infectious lung diseases and ongoing access to affordable, quality healthcare, including supplemental oxygen.

Participants in the Respiratory Advocacy Day will not only meet with lawmakers but also attend training sessions and meet with other lung health partners and advocates. The American Lung Association's goal is to bring about lifesaving change by raising public visibility of chronic lung disease and advocating for necessary improvements in healthcare access and funding.

The American Lung Association, a 4-star rating charity from Charity Navigator and a Platinum-Level GuideStar Member, is dedicated to four strategic imperatives: defeating lung cancer, championing clean air, improving the quality of life for those with lung disease, and creating a tobacco-free future. The organization's work is focused on these imperatives, and it will continue to advocate for the needs of those living with chronic respiratory diseases.