[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 18 (Tuesday, February 14, 2006)]
[House]
[Pages H234-H236]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF A DAY OF HEARTS, CONGENITAL HEART 
                               DEFECT DAY

  Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
agree to the resolution (H. Res. 629) supporting the goals and ideals 
of a Day of Hearts, Congenital Heart Defect Day in order to increase 
awareness about congenital heart defects, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 629

       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;
       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, That the House of Representatives 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.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Michigan (Mrs. Miller) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Michigan.

[[Page H235]]

                             General Leave

  Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and 
extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution 
under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Michigan?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  H. Resolution 629, offered by the distinguished gentleman from 
Georgia (Mr. Price), would support the goals and the ideals of a Day of 
Hearts, Congenital Heart Defect Day.
  Today in the United States, heart disease and stroke, the basic 
components of cardiovascular disease, are the first and third leading 
causes of death for both men and women, accounting for nearly 40 
percent of all deaths. Over 900,000 Americans die of cardiovascular 
disease each year, Mr. Speaker, which amounts to a death every 34 
seconds. Even though this dangerous disease attacks those over the age 
of 65 most commonly, the number of sudden deaths from heart disease 
among people between the ages of 15 and 34 has increased dramatically.
  Along with the individual effects of this vastly growing disease, 
there is also a widespread economic impact. The U.S. health care system 
continues to be hit with the cost of heart disease and stroke in the 
U.S. Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of permanent 
disability in the U.S. workforce, and there are over 6 million 
hospitalizations each year due to this disease. As our population ages, 
the cost of heart disease and stroke was projected to be $394 billion 
in 2005, last year, which includes health care expenditures and lost 
productivity from death and disability.
  Mr. Speaker, I would ask all Members to support H. Resolution 629 
with the hope that, because cardiovascular disease is preventable, 
increased awareness and research could enable us as Americans to cut 
down on the unnecessary deaths due to this disease each year in our 
country.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1445

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  (Mr. DAVIS of Illinois asked and was given permission to revise and 
extend his remarks.)
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the resolution to recognize 
the goals and ideas of a Day of Hearts, and I commend the gentleman 
from Georgia for making use of Valentine's Day as a way of highlighting 
and bringing awareness to one of our major health problems and health 
issues.
  Every year, eight out of every 1,000 children are born with some form 
of congenital heart defect, or CHD. CHDs are the number one killer of 
infants in the United States, and while treatment is available for many 
of these defects, a number of them are not treatable. Sadly, too, many 
families lack the resources necessary to obtain proper treatment for 
even the most common and easily treatable defects.
  Because CHDs are long-term or often lifelong afflictions, the life of 
a child who survives a CHD is made more difficult by restricted 
behavior and the laborious effort needed to carry out the daily tasks 
of life.
  A Day of Hearts is an international effort to raise awareness of this 
all-too-common problem. CHD lacks the visibility of some of the 
diseases we all know well, yet the effects are no less tragic. Much 
progress needs to be made in fighting the disease and in finding and 
funding facilities that are dedicated to cutting-edge research related 
to all aspects of CHDs, especially factors that contribute to their 
occurrence.
  In addition, developing countries are far behind the developing world 
in treating CHDs. Defects that are easily treatable here in the United 
States can be killers in those countries, and our sense of humanity can 
no longer tolerate easily preventible deaths from CHDs.
  Mr. Speaker, February 14 is a day that many people around the world 
associate with love and companionship, and the enduring symbol of 
Valentine's Day is the heart. I can think of no day more appropriately 
tailored towards raising the public's awareness of CHDs than 
Valentine's Day. Therefore, I join in support of this important 
resolution and call upon all of my colleagues to support this effort so 
that hopefully we will generate the kind of awareness and the kind of 
resources that are necessary to fight this tragic and debilitating 
illness.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may 
consume to my distinguished colleague from the State of Georgia (Mr. 
Price).
  Mr. PRICE of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairwoman for 
allowing me to speak on this issue. I appreciate her leadership in 
this. I want to thank my Georgia colleagues and all colleagues on both 
sides of the aisle who have assisted in supporting this endeavor.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to wish a happy Valentine's Day to Sarah 
Anne Voyles. Sarah is a 15-year-old young lady who happens to live in 
my district. She is a special young lady who just happened to be born 
with a congenital heart defect who brought this whole issue to my 
attention.
  As a physician, I practiced for nearly 20 years in my community and I 
understand the medical importance of being able to treat congenital 
heart defects. But as a Member of Congress the issue becomes all that 
more important as we work to bring attention to this remarkable 
challenge.
  So I am proud to stand today and present and support H. Res. 629, a 
resolution that will identify today, Valentine's Day 2006, as a Day of 
Hearts, Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Day.
  What is a congenital heart defect? Well, congenital means it is 
present at birth, so it is an abnormality that is present at birth. It 
is a birth defect. It is a birth defect of the heart. It is a birth 
defect, though, that we don't often hear about.
  It occurs during the development of the heart, which begins for a 
baby shortly after conception. These defects can involve the walls of 
the heart, or the valves of the heart, or the blood vessels, the 
arteries and veins that supply the heart itself. They are often able to 
disrupt the normal flow of blood in the heart, slowing that blood down 
or having it flow in the wrong direction or wrong place, or it might 
even block the flow of blood altogether. They also can be conduction 
defects, defects that make it so the heart doesn't beat in the correct 
way.
  More than 35,000 infants, about one out of every 150 births, are born 
with heart defects every single year; and these defects can be very 
minimal in nature and not even be noticed by the family or the child or 
the physicians, or they can be life-threatening. Heart defects are 
among the most common birth defects, and they are the leading cause of 
birth defect-related deaths in the United States.
  The good news is that with significantly improving treatment over the 
past few decades there are now more adults living with congenital heart 
defects than ever before, having been treated in their infancy for 
those defects. And this means that there are new medical challenges 
that we as a society will confront, and confront them we will.
  So it is perfectly fitting and appropriate that we pause today and 
recognize Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Day in order to do three 
specific things: One is to increase the awareness of congenital heart 
defects; two is to encourage research with respect to this disease; 
and, three, to support the millions of Americans who are affected by 
this disease.
  So I join with the others and ask my colleagues to support this 
resolution and join me in wishing Sarah Anne Voyles, and all Americans 
living with congenital heart defects, a very happy Valentine's Day and 
a Day of Hearts for Congenital Heart Defect Day.
  Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may 
consume to my distinguished colleague from the State of Nebraska (Mr. 
Fortenberry).
  Mr. FORTENBERRY. Mr. Speaker, I thank Dr. Price and my other 
colleagues who have cosponsored this Day of Hearts resolution, 
recognizing congenital heart defects and the impact they are having on 
American society and American families.

[[Page H236]]

  As has been mentioned, approximately 35,000 babies are born each year 
with some variety of a congenital heart defect. Five years ago, my wife 
Celeste and I had a beautiful baby girl, and we named her Kathryn, and 
she was one of those 35,000 babies. She was diagnosed shortly after her 
birth with a complete atrial ventricular septal defect.
  It was a normal birth. Afterward, during a regular checkup, our 
family doctor heard something that almost jumped through his 
stethoscope. As we later found out, he was holding back his own emotion 
as he heard this. So that launched us then on a path, a very intense, 
difficult, 3-month period, until she had her first surgery.
  But one of the most encouraging things that happened for us then were 
other parents who found out we were suffering through this and who took 
initiative to call us, to extend a hand of friendship. Because when 
this happens to you, your world spins around 360 degrees. It is very 
hard to know who to turn to and where to go. So the support network of 
parents who simply took their own initiative to contact us was very 
deeply meaningful and helped us through this very difficult time.
  Kathryn, as many of your saw this past weekend, is a very vibrant, 
happy, 5-year-old. She wears a pacemaker, which obviously causes some 
security difficulties here and there, but, nonetheless, we are grateful 
to the advances that medicine has given us in the last 30 years to be 
able to deal successfully with this form of defect.
  I am just really thankful that Congress is taking the initiative 
today to actually propose a Day of Hearts, not only to bring more 
emphasis to the issue, because it does affect so many families, but to 
potentially help spur additional research into the potential of finding 
a cure, or at least helping parents who have to deal with the 
management of this issue for a lifetime.
  Thank you, Dr. Price, for proposing this; thank you to my other 
colleagues who have cosponsored this; and I urge passage of H.R. 629.
  Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I think it is especially appropriate that today on 
Valentine's Day, when we celebrate love and affection from the bottom 
of our hearts, that this House passes a resolution that seeks to 
provide protection from our hearts being damaged from disease. I urge 
all Members to support the adoption of H. Res. 629.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of H. 
Res. 629, supporting the goals and ideals of a Day of Hearts, 
Congenital Heart Defect Day in order to increase awareness about 
congenital heart defects. I think it's fitting that on Valentine's Day, 
we can discuss a resolution that will help protect our hearts.
  Heart disease can affect every aspect of your life: your ability to 
work, your ability to get adequate insurance, your ability to exercise 
or play sports, and your ability to have children, not to mention your 
ability to enjoy your life and live it to the fullest.
  Estimates suggest that about 1 million Americans have a congenital 
heart defect. If time in the hospital and recuperating from heart 
conditions could be measured in years of life, over 91,000 life years 
are lost each year in the US due to congenital heart disease. For 
inpatient surgery alone, charges for care exceed $2.2 billion every 
year.
  Even our most vulnerable and innocent citizens are not exempt from 
the risk of heart disease: around 35,000 babies are born with a heart 
defect each year. Out of 1,000 births, 8 babies will have some form of 
congenital heart disorder, although for the most part, these are mild. 
Severe heart disease generally becomes apparent during the first couple 
of months after birth. Doctors know to watch for certain clues, 
including when babies are born blue, have very low blood pressure, 
breathing difficulties, feeding problems, or poor weight gain. In 
addition, most minor defects are diagnosed on a routine medical check 
up.
  We've made significant improvements in the treatment of congenital 
heart conditions, from preventive treatment, to surgery, to research, 
to education and outreach. In the 1960s and 1970s the risk of dying 
following congenital heart surgery was about 30 percent and today it is 
around 5 percent.
  However, recent statistics show that heart disease is still the No. 1 
killer of American women, and heart failure is on the rise in the 
elderly. This bill is relevant and timely, and a noble effort to bring 
much needed awareness and crucial outreach to men, women and children 
across the Nation. Knowledge can make all the difference in quality of 
life, and a Day of Hearts is the perfect way to start the conversation 
and spread the word.
  Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Issa). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Miller) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 629.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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