[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 522 Engrossed in House (EH)]


                 In the House of Representatives, U.S.,

                                                        March 24, 2004.
Whereas heart disease is the number one killer of American women;
Whereas heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases claim the lives 
        of more than half a million women each year;
Whereas heart disease takes the lives of more women than men;
Whereas according to a recent American Heart Association survey, only 13 percent 
        of women consider heart disease their greatest health threat;
Whereas one in three women dies of heart disease;
Whereas heart disease kills almost twice as many women as all forms of cancer;
Whereas African-Americans are at greater risk for heart disease and stroke than 
        Caucasians, affecting African-American females at a rate of 39.6 percent 
        compared to 23.8 percent in Caucasian females;
Whereas heart disease and stroke are the leading causes of death for Hispanics, 
        and responsible for 33 percent of deaths in Hispanic females;
Whereas heart disease risk factors include family history, smoking, high blood 
        pressure, high cholesterol, overweight/obesity, physical inactivity, and 
        diabetes; and
Whereas women are often unaware of the risk and receive fewer preventive 
        services than recommended: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that there is 
a critical need to increase awareness and education about heart disease and the 
risk factors for heart disease among women, and the House of Representatives--
            (1) commends First Lady Laura Bush and the National Heart, Lung, and 
        Blood Institute in their vital campaign to raise public awareness that 
        heart disease is the number one killer of American women;
            (2) believes that heart disease will remain the number one killer of 
        American women unless we as a society dramatically improve education, 
        preventative care, research, diagnostic capabilities, and treatments; 
        and
            (3) recognizes that the more women become cognizant of the scourge 
        of heart disease and how to prevent it, the more likely they can make 
        sound lifestyle changes to help reduce their chances of getting heart 
        disease.
            Attest:

                                                                          Clerk.