[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 65 (Tuesday, May 11, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S5223]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

                                 ______
                                 

              IOWA WOMEN AGAINST HEART DISEASE AND STROKE

 Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, today I rise to acknowledge women 
in Iowa who are taking a stand against heart disease and stroke. Many 
people assume that cardiovascular disease is a man's disease. The truth 
is, it has claimed more lives of women since 1984.
  Nationwide, 8 million women are living with heart disease. Thirteen 
percent of women age 45 and over have had a heart attack.
  As a survivor of breast cancer, my wife Barbara knows the fears of 
many women. Heart disease, just like cancer, is scary and real. It is 
up to women around the world to educate their friends, mothers, and 
sisters about the disease. Women in Iowa are doing it this week.
  I commend every woman in Iowa for being an advocate for a very good 
cause. The campaign to educate all women about the major risk factors 
of heart disease and about heart-healthy behavior will positively 
impact the lives of many families. Women in Iowa should not 
underestimate their personal risk, and they should know what they can 
do to beat the disease.
  In Congress, I have worked to increase funding for the National 
Institutes of Health. The NIH is one of the world's foremost medical 
research centers, and the Federal focal point for medical research in 
the United States.
  I am keenly aware of the overall benefits of biomedical research to 
the health care system, and to those with heart disease.
  In fact, the NIH has set out to develop a national public awareness 
and outreach campaign to convey the message that heart disease is the 
number one killer of American women and that it can be successfully 
prevented and treated.
  Six years ago, we set out to double the funding for the NIH. We 
followed through with our promise. As a result, the NIH now funds 
nearly 10,000 more research grants and can support the training of over 
1,500 more scientists each year.
  This is good news for women everywhere. The increase in funding is a 
step in the right direction, but we can't give up. It will take all of 
us to stop the leading cause of death in our state.

                          ____________________