Lung Association Applauds Illinois State Budget, as it Renews Focus on Asthma Prevention and Helping Tobacco Users Quits | American Lung Association

SPRINGFIELD, IL | May 27, 2023

Today, the Illinois General Assembly passed an approximately $50 billion state budget that includes vital funding increases for asthma and tobacco prevention and control.

Thanks to a settlement reached by Attorney General Kwame Raoul in April 2022 that brought hundreds of millions of dollars to the state, the General Assembly increased funding for the Illinois Tobacco Quitline by $1 million, bringing the total funding amount to $5.1 million, and appropriated $3 million in new funding for asthma prevention. Given tobacco use kills more than 18,000 Illinoisans each year and asthma affects more than 832,00 adults and 188,000 children in our state, these additional funds are critical to improving lung health and preventing early death.

The state budget also includes several provisions of level funding supported by the Lung Association:

$30 million to transition the state government vehicle fleet to zero emission vehicles;
$2.4 million for asthma medication and asthma education in schools;
$5 million for local health department tobacco prevention and control funding;
$1 million for tobacco use and asthma prevention; and
A re-appropriation of $1.8 million for lung and colon cancer screenings.

Kristina Hamilton, the American Lung Association’s Advocacy Director for Illinois said, “We applaud Governor Pritzker and the legislature for passing a budget that includes robust investments in lung health that will undoubtedly save lives and help clean up our air. This budget will bolster Illinois’ role as a national leader in public health.”

Free help to quit smoking can be found at quityes.org or 1-866-QUIT-YES. Additionally, information about lung cancer screening can be found at https://www.lung.org/local-content/il/illinois-lung-cancer-screening-initiative.

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About the American Lung Association

The American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease through education, advocacy and research. The work of the American Lung Association is focused on four strategic imperatives: to defeat lung cancer; to champion clean air for all; to improve the quality of life for those with lung disease and their families; and to create a tobacco-free future. For more information about the American Lung Association, which has a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator and is a Platinum-Level GuideStar Member, call 1-800-LUNGUSA (1-800-586-4872) or visit: Lung.org. To support the work of the American Lung Association, find a local event at Lung.org/events.

For more information, contact:

James A. Martinez
(312) 445-2501
[email protected]

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Lung Association Applauds Illinois State Budget, as it Renews Focus on Asthma Prevention and Helping Tobacco Users Quit

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