[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 45 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 45

 Designating February 2017 as ``American Heart Month'' and February 3, 
                  2017, as ``National Wear Red Day''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            February 3, 2017

 Ms. Hirono (for herself, Ms. Murkowski, Ms. Warren, Ms. Hassan, Mrs. 
  Fischer, Ms. Stabenow, Mrs. Shaheen, Ms. Baldwin, Mrs. Capito, Ms. 
  Heitkamp, Mrs. Feinstein, Ms. Klobuchar, Ms. Collins, Ms. Cantwell, 
  Mrs. Murray, Mr. Durbin, and Ms. Duckworth) submitted the following 
    resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Designating February 2017 as ``American Heart Month'' and February 3, 
                  2017, 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 30 
        percent, but heart disease continues to be the leading cause of death in 
        the United States, taking the lives of approximately 800,000 individuals 
        in the United States and accounting for 1 in 3 deaths across the United 
        States;
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, each year, an estimated 790,000 individuals in the United States have a 
        heart attack, of whom an estimated 115,000 die;
Whereas cardiovascular disease and stroke account for $555,000,000,000 in health 
        care expenditures and lost productivity annually;
Whereas, by 2030, cardiovascular disease and stroke will account for 
        $1,093,900,000,000 in health care expenditures and lost productivity 
        annually;
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 298,840 women in 
        2015;
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 44 percent of African-American men;
Whereas Alaska Natives die from heart disease at younger ages than individuals 
        from other ethnic groups;
Whereas it is estimated that 36 percent of Alaska Natives and American Indians 
        who die of cardiovascular disease die before reaching 65 years of age;
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 2017, treatment of cardiovascular disease for women 
        has largely been based on medical research on men;
Whereas, due to the differences in heart disease between men and women, 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 section 101(1) of title 36, United States Code, the President is 
        requested to 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) designates February 2017 as ``American Heart Month'' 
        and February 3, 2017, as ``National Wear Red Day'';
            (2) supports the goals and ideals of American Heart Month 
        and National Wear Red Day;
            (3) 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;
            (4) 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
            (5) encourages every individual in the United States to 
        learn about the risk of the individual for heart disease.
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