[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 365 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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114th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. RES. 365
Designating February 2016 as ``American Heart Month'' and February 5,
2016, as ``National Wear Red Day''.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 8, 2016
Ms. Hirono (for herself, Ms. Baldwin, Mrs. Feinstein, Ms. Heitkamp, Ms.
Warren, Ms. Klobuchar, Mrs. Murray, Ms. Murkowski, Mrs. Capito, Ms.
Ayotte, Ms. Cantwell, Mrs. Boxer, Mrs. Fischer, Mrs. Shaheen, Ms.
Stabenow, Ms. Collins, Mr. Durbin, and Ms. Mikulski) submitted the
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Designating February 2016 as ``American Heart Month'' and February 5,
2016, as ``National Wear Red Day''.
Whereas heart disease affects men, women, and children of every age and race in
the United States;
Whereas, between 2003 and 2013, the death rate from heart disease fell nearly 40
percent, but heart disease continues to be the leading cause of death in
the United States, taking the lives of approximately 370,000 individuals
in the United States and accounting for 1 in 7 deaths nationwide;
Whereas congenital heart defects are the most common birth defect in the United
States, as well as the leading killer of infants with birth defects;
Whereas, every year, an estimated 750,000 individuals in the United States have
a heart attack, of which an estimated 116,000 individuals die;
Whereas cardiovascular disease and stroke account for $316,000,000,000 in health
care expenditures and lost productivity annually;
Whereas cardiovascular disease and stroke will account for $1,393,000,000,000 in
health care expenditures and lost productivity annually by 2030;
Whereas individuals in the United States have made great progress in reducing
the death rate for coronary heart disease, but this progress has been
more modest with respect to the death rate for coronary heart disease
for women and minorities;
Whereas many people do not recognize that heart disease is the number 1 killer
of women in the United States, taking the lives of 287,220 women in
2012;
Whereas nearly \2/3\ of women who unexpectedly die of heart disease have no
previous symptoms of disease;
Whereas nearly \1/2\ of all African-American adults have some form of
cardiovascular disease, including 48 percent of African-American women
and 46 percent of African-American men;
Whereas many minority women, including African-American, Hispanic, Asian-
American, and Native-American women and women from indigenous
populations, have a greater prevalence of risk factors or are at a
higher risk of death from heart disease, stroke, and other
cardiovascular diseases, but such women are less likely to know of the
risk;
Whereas, between 1965 and 2016, treatment of cardiovascular disease for women
has largely been based on medical research on men;
Whereas, due to the differences in heart disease between males and females, more
research and data on the effects of heart disease treatments for women
is vital;
Whereas extensive clinical and statistical studies have identified major and
contributing factors that increase the risk of heart disease, including
high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, smoking tobacco products,
exposure to tobacco smoke, physical inactivity, obesity, and diabetes
mellitus;
Whereas an individual can greatly reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease
through lifestyle modification coupled with medical treatment when
necessary;
Whereas greater awareness and early detection of risk factors of heart disease
can improve and save the lives of thousands of individuals in the United
States each year;
Whereas under the Joint Resolution entitled ``Joint Resolution to provide for
the designation of the month of February in each year as `American Heart
Month''', approved December 30, 1963 (36 U.S.C. 101), Congress requested
that the President issue an annual proclamation designating February as
``American Heart Month'';
Whereas the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes
of Health, the American Heart Association, and many other organizations
celebrate ``National Wear Red Day'' during February by ``going red'' to
increase awareness about heart disease as the leading killer of women;
and
Whereas, every year since 1964, the President has issued a proclamation
designating the month of February as ``American Heart Month'': Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) supports the goals and ideals of ``American Heart
Month'' and ``National Wear Red Day'';
(2) recognizes and reaffirms the commitment in the United
States to fighting heart disease and stroke by--
(A) promoting awareness about the causes, risks,
and prevention of heart disease and stroke;
(B) supporting research on heart disease and
stroke; and
(C) expanding access to medical treatment;
(3) commends the efforts of States, territories and
possessions of the United States, localities, nonprofit
organizations, businesses and other entities, and the people of
the United States who support ``American Heart Month'' and
``National Wear Red Day''; and
(4) encourages every individual in the United States to
learn about the risk of the individual for heart disease.
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