[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 256 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]







106th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 256

   Designating the week of February 14-18, 2000, as ``National Heart 
                       Failure Awareness Week''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           February 10, 2000

  Mr. Specter (for himself, Mr. Akaka, Mr. Ashcroft, Mr. Baucus, Mr. 
 Bayh, Mr. Bennett, Mr. Biden, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Breaux, Mr. L. Chafee, 
Mr. Cleland, Ms. Collins, Mr. Conrad, Mr. Craig, Mr. DeWine, Mr. Dodd, 
 Mr. Dorgan, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Enzi, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Fitzgerald, Mr. 
Frist, Mr. Gorton, Mr. Graham, Mr. Gramm, Mr. Grams, Mr. Grassley, Mr. 
Hatch, Mr. Helms, Mr. Inouye, Mr. Kerry, Ms. Landrieu, Mr. Lautenberg, 
 Mr. Lugar, Mr. Mack, Ms. Mikulski, Mr. Moynihan, Mr. Murkowski, Mrs. 
Murray, Mr. Reed, Mr. Reid, Mr. Robb, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Rockefeller, Mr. 
 Roth, Mr. Sarbanes, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Shelby, Mr. Smith of Oregon, Mr. 
  Thurmond, Mr. Voinovich, Mr. Warner, Mr. Wellstone, Mr. Wyden, Ms. 
 Snowe, Mr. Jeffords, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Sessions, Mr. Stevens, and Mr. 
Lieberman) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and 
                               agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
   Designating the week of February 14-18, 2000, as ``National Heart 
                       Failure Awareness Week''.

Whereas the primary goals of ``National Heart Failure Awareness Week'' are--
            (1) to promote research related to all aspects of heart failure and 
        provide a forum for presentation of that research;
            (2) to educate heart failure caregivers and patients through 
        programs, publications, and other media allowing for more effective 
        treatment and diagnosis of heart failure; and
            (3) to enhance the quality and duration of life for those with heart 
        failure;
Whereas heart failure, a disease of the heart muscle, is of epidemic proportions 
        in the United States;
Whereas as of January 1, 2000, approximately 4,600,000 Americans had been 
        diagnosed with congestive heart failure, and an estimated 450,000 more 
        cases will be diagnosed in the year 2000;
Whereas coronary artery disease is a cause in approximately 50 percent of the 
        cases of patients with heart failure, and in such cases, patients often 
        have heart attacks or require bypass surgery;
Whereas the incidence of heart failure increases with age and is the most 
        frequent cause of hospitalization for individuals over the age of 65;
Whereas the prognosis for those diagnosed with heart failure is not promising, 
        as less than 50 percent of patients live more than 5 years after their 
        initial diagnosis; and
Whereas it is vital that the American public become aware of the enormous impact 
        of heart failure, and be better educated regarding the signs and 
        symptoms of the disease: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) in recognition of all the individuals who have devoted 
        time and energy toward increasing public awareness and 
        education on heart failure, designates the week of February 14-
        18, 2000, as ``National Heart Failure Awareness Week''; and
            (2) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
        calling on the people of the United States to observe the week 
        with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
                                 <all>