[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 156 (Sunday, September 28, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2135]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          HEART FOR WOMEN ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. ROSA L. DeLAURO

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 23, 2008

  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the HEART for Women 
Act (H.R. 1014) to help improve the prevention, diagnosis, and 
treatment of heart disease in women, which often manifests itself 
differently in women than in men. It is critically important that we 
develop a better understanding of these differences and the reasons 
behind them, and spur the development and use of diagnosis, treatment, 
and prevention strategies that are most effective for reducing the 
death rate for heart disease in women.
  We have made some progress on this front. The Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention's WISEWOMAN (Well-Integrated Screening and 
Evaluation for Women Across the Nation) provides low-income, under-
insured or uninsured middle-aged women with screening and knowledge to 
prevent cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular disease ranks as 
America's number-one killer and, with one in three female adults facing 
some form of cardiovascular disease, this program shows how prevention 
can make the difference between life or death.
  The WISEWOMAN program has proven to be tremendously successful in 
reaching those women most at risk for heart disease and stroke. In 
fact, 3 out of 4 of the women screened by WISEWOMAN have at least one 
risk factor for heart disease and stroke, and women who have 
participated in WISEWOMAN are more likely to quit smoking and make 
other lifestyle changes to reduce their cardiovascular disease risk.
  It is a good investment, too. A recent study found the WISEWOMAN 
program to be very cost-effective because of its success in reducing 
risk for chronic diseases. In this study, the program extended women's 
lives at a cost of $4,400 per estimated year of life saved, as opposed 
to a much higher cost of $26,000 per estimated year of life saved by 
heart bypass surgery.
  Unfortunately, even these effective, proven programs reach only a 
fraction of the women who could actually take advantage of them. 
Through 2007, CDC funded 14 state health departments and two tribal 
organizations to offer WISEWOMAN programs. It makes common sense to 
bring this effective program to women in all 50 states. The HEART for 
Women Act would do just that.
  The HEART for Women Act is co-sponsored by a majority of Members of 
Congress, including almost all of the women in the House, and has the 
support of the American Heart Association, the Society for Women's 
Health Research, WomenHeart, the Association of Black Cardiologists, 
and the American College of Cardiology.
  I commend the Energy and Commerce committee for supporting this 
important bill and congratulate my colleague Congresswoman Capps for 
her leadership. This represents an important step forward in ensuring 
that women all across our country have the help they need to live the 
healthiest, most productive lives possible.

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