American Lung Association Applauds Senate Passage, Urges House to Quickly Pass Inflation Reduction Act to Improve Access to Healthcare and Address Climate Change

Today, the U.S. Senate passed the Inflation Reduction Act. The bill will now go to the U.S. House of Representatives for consideration. American Lung Association’s National President and CEO Harold Wimmer issued the following statement in response to the advancement of this important bill: 

“The Inflation Reduction Act comes at a critical time for lung health. Millions of Americans are at risk of losing quality and affordable healthcare coverage, and intense wildfires, record-breaking heat, extreme flooding and worsened air quality are impacting the country. The American Lung Association applauds the Senate for quickly passing this important legislation and urges the U.S. House of Representatives to pass it without delay.

“This legislation includes important investments to ensure quality and affordable healthcare for Americans and to address climate change, which is a health emergency. The bill extends the enhanced advance premium tax credits (APTCs) for three years. Without an extension, an estimated 3.4 million individuals will lose their coverage and more than ten million people will see their premiums rise. The legislation also reduces out-of-pocket medication costs for Medicare beneficiaries and removes financial barriers to recommended vaccines. 

“The Inflation Reduction Act represents a major step forward in cleaning up air pollution and addressing climate change. The investments provide tax credits to spur the development and implementation of clean energy technology and incentivize the adoption of electric vehicles, buses and trucks. The legislation will also hold oil and gas operators responsible for methane leaks and invest billions in cleaning up pollution in communities to further environmental justice.

“While this bill it is a major step forward, it is not perfect. We are disappointed by the omission of a solution to the Medicaid coverage gap and the inclusion of investments in harmful forms of energy production. However, the bottom line is that overall, this legislation is good news for lung health.

“We urge the U.S. House of Representatives to quickly pass this bill so we can begin seeing the public health benefits. We also look forward to working with lawmakers to pass additional policies that are proven to create a healthier future for all.”

For media interested in speaking with an expert, contact the American Lung Association at [email protected] or at 312-940-7001.