[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 22 (Monday, February 22, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H617-H618]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
AMERICAN HEART MONTH AND NATIONAL WEAR RED DAY
Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to
the resolution (H. Res. 1039) supporting the goals and ideals of
American Heart Month and National Wear Red Day.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 1039
Whereas heart disease affects adult men and women of every
age and race in the United States;
Whereas heart disease continues to be the leading cause of
death in the United States;
Whereas an estimated 81,000,000 adult Americans, more than
one in every 3, have one or more types of heart disease,
including high blood pressure, coronary heart disease,
congestive heart failure, stroke, and congenital heart
defects;
Whereas extensive clinical and statistical studies have
identified major and contributing factors that increase the
risk of heart disease;
Whereas these studies have identified the following as
major risk factors that cannot be changed: Age (the risk of
developing heart disease gradually increases as people age;
advanced age significantly increases the risk), gender (men
have greater risk of developing heart disease than women),
and heredity (children of parents with heart disease are more
likely to develop it themselves; African-Americans have more
severe high blood pressure than Caucasians and therefore are
at higher risk; the risk is also higher among Latina
Americans, some Asian Americans, and Native Americans and
other indigenous populations);
Whereas these studies have identified the following as
major risk factors that Americans can modify, treat, or
control by changing their lifestyle or seeking appropriate
medical treatment: High blood pressure, high blood
cholesterol, smoking tobacco products and exposure to tobacco
smoke, physical inactivity, obesity, and diabetes mellitus;
Whereas these studies have identified the following as
contributing risk factors that Americans can also take action
to modify, treat or control by changing their lifestyle or
seeking appropriate medical treatment: Individual response to
stress, excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages, use of
certain illegal drugs, and hormone replacement therapy;
Whereas more than 106,000,000 adult Americans have high
blood pressure;
Whereas more than 37,000,000 Americans have cholesterol
levels of 240 mg/dL or higher, the level at which it becomes
a major risk factor;
Whereas an estimated 46,000,000 Americans put themselves at
risk for heart disease every day by smoking cigarettes;
Whereas data released by the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention shows that more than 65 percent of American
adults do not get enough physical activity, and more than 39
percent are not physically active at all;
Whereas 66 percent of adult Americans are overweight or
obese;
Whereas 24 million adult Americans have diabetes and 65
percent of those so afflicted will die of some form of heart
disease;
Whereas the American Heart Association projects that in
2010 1,200,000 Americans will have a first or recurrent heart
attack and 452,000 of these people will die as a result;
Whereas in 2010 approximately 800,000 Americans will suffer
a new or recurrent stroke and 160,000 of these people will
die as a result;
Whereas advances in medical research have significantly
improved our capacity to fight heart disease by providing
greater knowledge about its causes, innovative diagnostic
tools to detect the disease, and new and improved treatments
that help people survive and recover from this disease;
Whereas Congress by Joint Resolution approved on December
30, 1963 (77 Stat. 843; 36 U.S.C. 101), has requested that
the President 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 February as ``American
Heart Month'': Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives supports the
goals and ideals of American Heart Month and National Wear
Red Day.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Massachusetts (Mr. Lynch) and the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms.
Foxx) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Massachusetts.
General Leave
Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their
remarks and to add any extraneous material.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Massachusetts?
There was no objection.
Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, on behalf of the Committee on Oversight and Government
Reform, I present House Resolution 1039 for consideration. This
legislation expresses our support for the goals and ideals of American
Heart Month and National Wear Red Day.
Introduced by my colleague Representative Christopher Lee of New York
on January 26, 2010, House Resolution 1039 enjoys the support of over
50 Members of Congress. In addition, today's floor consideration allows
Members of this body an added opportunity
[[Page H618]]
to express their support for this thoughtful commemorative resolution.
Madam Speaker, House Resolution 1039 expresses our support for the
goals of American Heart Month, which is annually commemorated during
the month of February as a way of highlighting the devastating impact
of cardiovascular disease on our Nation. As noted by the American Heart
Association, heart disease, including stroke, continues to serve as the
number one cause of death in the United States. In addition, an
estimated 81.1 million adult Americans currently suffer from one or
more types of heart disease. Accordingly, since 1963, Congress and the
American Heart Association have partnered to draw attention to the
cause and effects of heart disease, an effort that is reflected in the
resolution authored by the gentleman from New York (Mr. Lee).
In addition, House Resolution 1039 also expresses our support for the
goals and ideals of National Wear Red Day, which this year was held on
Friday, February 5. Notably, National Wear Red Day is designed to
support the fight against heart disease in women by encouraging all
Americans to wear red at their workplaces, places of worship, out in
their communities, and at home. Through the simple act of wearing red,
all Americans can ensure that National Wear Red Day continues to serve
as a powerful tool by which to raise our national awareness of heart
disease and stroke, especially among women.
Madam Speaker, American Heart Month and National Wear Red Day are
both valuable efforts in the fight against heart disease. For this
reason, I urge my colleagues to join Mr. Lee, myself, and others in
supporting House Resolution 1039.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of this resolution urging the
support of American Heart Month and National Wear Red Day.
American Heart Month was initiated in 1963 by Congress in an effort
to bring about awareness and urge Americans to join the battle against
today's number one killer, heart disease.
Heart disease continues to be the leading cause of death in the
United States. It is a tragic disease that affects men, women, and
children of every age and race throughout the country. Approximately
one in three adult Americans have one or more types of heart disease,
including high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, congestive heart
failure, stroke, and congenital heart disease, as well as those at risk
for heart disease as a result of smoking.
An astounding 66 percent of adult Americans are overweight, 46
million people are at risk for heart disease because they smoke, and 37
million people have high cholesterol levels that could become a major
risk factor. The American Heart Association projects that this year
almost a half million people will die as a result of a heart attack.
These are staggering numbers, and all of these lifestyles, among many
others, have a direct impact on heart disease. Therefore, it's
imperative we sound the alarm and remain vigilant and supportive of
heart disease awareness programs. By exercising regularly, avoiding
tobacco, limiting consumption of alcohol, following a nutritious diet,
and monitoring high cholesterol and high blood pressure, we all can
work to increase the chances of healthy lifestyle changes.
National Wear Red Day, a day when people throughout the country are
encouraged to wear a red article of clothing as an outward sign that
heart disease ``doesn't care what you wear,'' is one way to visually
express our concern and show support for women's heart disease
awareness. Although one-half of all heart disease deaths are in women,
studies have shown that women's symptoms are less recognized. There are
currently a number of initiatives that are underway to raise awareness
of the dangers of cardiovascular disease in women; however, the
challenging work of promoting awareness continues as cardiovascular
disease increases in the country.
I am proud to do my part through support of this resolution while
encouraging all citizens to take advantage of regular screenings and
consult their doctors about reducing their risk for heart disease. It's
also important that we support the organizations that celebrate
National Wear Red Day and American Heart Month in February in an effort
to educate the public, promote awareness, and fund research of this
serious disease.
Madam Speaker, I urge all Members to support the passage of H. Res.
1039, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, I want to thank the gentlewoman from North
Carolina for her eloquent words and for her support.
I simply ask all Members to support Mr. Lee of New York in this
resolution, House Resolution 1039.
Mr. LEE of New York. Madam Speaker, as we all know, the United States
has marked American Heart Month every February for the last 46 years. I
want to thank Chairman Towns and Ranking Member Issa for their
cooperation in getting this resolution to the floor quickly. I also
want to thank our nearly 60 cosponsors from both sides of the aisle.
Heart disease and stroke affect more people in Western New York than
anywhere else in the country. Here are some other facts: The rate of
stroke death in WNY is 23 percent higher than the national rate and 79
percent higher than the aggregate New York State rate. Heart disease
kills 10 times as many women in WNY as breast cancer and six times as
many women as lung cancer.
Of course, heart disease remains the number one cause of death for
both women and men in the United States. And the one fact that troubles
me greatly is: Only 58 percent of WNY residents report visiting their
doctors routinely to have their blood pressure and cholesterol checked.
That number is simply too low.
The one thing we can all do to raise public awareness of heart
disease and stroke without spending a dime is talk to family and
friends about the warning signs for these silent killers and what
preventive steps they can take to protect themselves.
The simple act of going to the doctor--or even visiting the American
Heart Association's Web site--may be all it takes to save a life.
I hope that in addition to the passage of this resolution, my
colleagues will join me in talking to constituents and raising
awareness of these deadly diseases.
Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Lynch) that the House suspend the
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1039.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not
present.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.
The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.
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