[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 13 (Tuesday, February 7, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S777-S778]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               DAY OF HEARTS, CONGENITAL HEART DEFECT DAY

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the HELP 
Committee be discharged from further consideration of and the Senate 
proceed to S. Con. Res. 69.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk 
will report the concurrent resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 69) supporting the 
     goals and ideals of a Day of Hearts, Congenital Heart Defect 
     Day in order to increase awareness about congenital heart 
     defects.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
concurrent resolution.
  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the concurrent 
resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motion to 
reconsider be laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 69) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The concurrent resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                            S. Con. Res. 69

       Whereas congenital heart defects are structural problems 
     with the heart that are present at birth;
       Whereas such defects range in severity from simple 
     problems, such as ``holes'' between chambers of the heart, to 
     very severe malformations, such as the complete absence of 
     one or more chambers or valves of the heart;
       Whereas more than one million Americans have some form of a 
     congenital heart defect and such defect is the number one 
     cause of death in infants;
       Whereas out of 1000 births, eight babies will have some 
     form of a congenital heart disorder, and approximately 35,000 
     babies are born with such defects each year;
       Whereas twice as many children die each year from 
     congenital heart disease compared with childhood cancers, yet 
     funding for pediatric cancer research is five times higher 
     than such funding for congenital heart disease;
       Whereas cardiovascular disease is the Nation's leading 
     killer in both men and women among all racial and ethnic 
     groups;
       Whereas the United States has a severe shortage of cardiac 
     centers that are fully equipped to provide care for adults 
     living with complex heart defects;

[[Page S778]]

       Whereas almost one million Americans die of cardiovascular 
     disease each year, resulting in up to 42 percent of all 
     deaths in the United States;
       Whereas the presence of a serious congenital heart defect 
     often results in an enormous emotional and financial strain 
     on young families who are already in a vulnerable stage of 
     their lives;
       Whereas severe congenital heart disease requires that 
     families dedicate extensive financial resources for 
     assistance and care both within and outside of a hospital 
     environment;
       Whereas congenial heart defects exceed more than $2.2 
     million a year for inpatient surgery alone; and
       Whereas February 14, 2006, would be an appropriate day to 
     recognize A Day for Hearts: Congenital Heart Defect Awareness 
     Day: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That the Congress supports the goals and ideals 
     of A Day of Hearts: Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Day 
     to--
       (1) increase awareness about congenital heart defects;
       (2) encourage research with respect to the disease; and
       (3) support the millions of Americans who are affected by 
     this disease.

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