III 109th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 56 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES February 16, 2005 Mr. Specter submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary RESOLUTION Designating the month of March as Deep-Vein Thrombosis Awareness Month, in memory of journalist David Bloom.

Whereas deep-vein thrombosis is a condition that occurs when a blood clot forms in one of the large veins, which may result in a fatal pulmonary embolism; Whereas deep-vein thrombosis is a serious but preventable medical condition; Whereas deep-vein thrombosis occurs in approximately 2,000,000 Americans every year; Whereas fatal pulmonary embolism causes more deaths each year than breast cancer and AIDS combined; Wherease complications from deep-vein thrombosis take up to 200,000 American lives each year; Whereas fatal pulmonary embolism may be the most common preventable cause of hospital death in the United States; Whereas the risk factors for deep-vein thrombosis include cancer and certain heart or respiratory diseases; Whereas pulmonary embolism is the leading cause of maternal death associated with childbirth; Whereas, according to a survey conducted by the American Public Health Association, 74 percent of Americans are unaware of deep-vein thrombosis; Whereas National Broadcasting Company correspondent David Bloom died of a fatal pulmonary embolism while covering the war in Iraq; Whereas Melanie Bloom, widow of David Bloom, and more than 35 members of the Coalition to Prevent Deep-Vein Thrombosis are working to raise awareness of this silent killer; and Whereas the establishment of March as Deep-Vein Thrombosis Awareness Month in honor of David Bloom would raise public awareness about this life-threatening but preventable condition: Now, therefore, be it

That the Senate— (1) designates the month of March as Deep-Vein Thrombosis Awareness Month; (2) honors the memory of David Bloom; and (3) recognizes the importance of raising awareness of deep-vein thrombosis.