The American Lung Association aims to: 1) defeat lung cancer 2) improve the air we breathe so it will not cause or worsen lung disease 3) reduce the burden of lung disease on individuals and their families, and 4) eliminate tobacco use and tobacco related diseases

Advocacy, education, and research are the three pillars of the American Lung Association's mission. Equally critical factors to achieving our mission are: increasing awareness of the effects of lung disease in our community and engaging individuals, families and organizations in our work. We believe in evidence-based, data-driven decision making and achieving measurable impact through a diverse, active and engaged army of volunteers.

To protect public health, the American Lung Association led the battle against tuberculosis, has been a national leader in tobacco prevention and control, fought to protect the air we breathe by reducing air pollution, and has funded lifesaving research for lung diseases like asthma, COPD, emphysema and cystic fibrosis. The organization is now focusing even more of its resources on lung cancer, the #1 cancer killer in the US, by doubling its funding of lung cancer research and exponentially increasing awareness of its devastating effects. The Lung Association is also promoting the importance of lung cancer screening to at-risk groups and their families.

The American Lung Association has strategic lung health goals in the areas of lung disease, lung cancer, healthy air and tobacco that align with external public health metrics such as Healthy People 2020. The organization measures its progress against these goals.

For 115 years, the American Lung Association has been America's leading force for lung health. Our work has directly contributed to major public health and medical landmarks, including: • Control of tuberculosis in America • A reduction in smoking rates to 13. 9 percent • 28 states and D. C. passed smokefree air laws • Air pollution levels dropping 73 percent since 1970 • Funded research that discovered the gene behind cystic fibrosis, the cause of respiratory distress syndrome in infants and studies that have directly improved the lives of people living with asthma, COPD and lung cancer. But there is more to do. Lung cancer remains the nation's #1 cancer killer, COPD remains the third cause of death in the US, and more than 10% of the US population is affected by chronic lung disease. We will continue to work to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease, because when you can’t breathe, nothing else matters.