[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 23 (Tuesday, February 9, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E151]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          AMERICAN HEART MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 9, 2016

  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize 
American Heart Month and to acknowledge the tireless advocacy of the 
staff and volunteers of the American Heart Association, and the 
organizations in my home state of New Jersey and across the country. 
They work this month, and year round, in the effort to raise awareness 
of heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases. The 
Association is leading the charge in increasing visibility of American 
Heart Month through coordinated campaigns, such as National Wear Red 
Day on February 5, Go Red For Women, and a congressional briefing on 
February 24.
  American Heart Month provides a critical platform to promote public 
awareness and heart-healthy lifestyles. The American Heart Association 
focuses on seven health factors and behaviors that increase the risk of 
cardiovascular disease, or CVD. These areas of prevention include 
smoking cessation, physical activity, healthy diet and body weight, as 
well as managing cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar. 
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the leading 
cause of heart disease and stroke is uncontrolled high blood pressure. 
Outlining these areas gives us the knowledge to focus our prevention 
efforts in the fight against CVD.
  The statistics speak for themselves. CVD is the leading cause of 
death nationally and globally. One in three American deaths is caused 
by CVD, a disease which claims the life of an American every forty 
seconds. To fully understand what that means, in 2013, the most recent 
year for which data is available, CVD killed over 800,000 people in 
America. In addition to the lives it claims, over eighty-five million 
Americans are currently living with CVD and its effects. CVD also has a 
real impact on our national economy. Annually, the economic cost of CVD 
is over $316 billion. $1 of every $6 spent on health care in this 
country is spent treating CVD.
  That said, there is good news. The efforts of the advocates are 
working. The mortality rate from heart disease has fallen by 38 
percent. This is encouraging, but there remains so much more to be 
done.
  I would be remiss if I did not mention the good work being done in my 
home state in the fight against CVD. The American Heart Association and 
the American Stroke Association are funding nineteen Founders Affiliate 
research awards in the state of New Jersey.
  In my own Congressional district, the Meridian Health Foundation's 
``Women's Heart Fund''--focused on promoting heart health in Monmouth 
and Ocean Counties--has worked to promote heart health awareness and 
raise funds for heart health at the Meridian Health System including 
the Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Riverview Medical Center, 
K. Hovnanian Children's Hospital, and Bayshore Community Hospital.
  Each year, the Fund selects and supports a cardiac initiative. In 
2015, the Fund supported the Community of LifeSavers program. Working 
together with the American Heart Association, Community of LifeSavers 
equips everyday people with the skills to perform CPR. Over 5,000 
students from seventeen schools have been trained, at no cost to the 
schools or students, since the program's inception.
  I am honored to have served as co-chair of the Congressional Heart 
and Stroke Coalition since the 113th Congress. This year marks the 
twentieth anniversary of the Coalition's establishment and our numbers 
have grown to over one hundred members of Congress. Over the past 
twenty years our bi-cameral, bi-partisan Coalition has served as a 
resource for all members of Congress and worked to advance federal 
policies that raise the quality of life for individuals with heart 
disease.
  The American Heart Association and the Coalition work in partnership 
to raise awareness of CVD and provide those of us making funding and 
policy decisions with the tools and information to address the problems 
most critical to those affected by CVD.
  Heart and stroke patients, as well as their loved ones and 
caregivers, need vocal advocates on Capitol Hill to ensure access to 
quality care and treatments. We have a duty to see that programs aimed 
at combating CVD, as well as medical research for prevention and 
treatment of stroke and heart attacks are supported appropriately at 
the federal level.
  As we look forward to promoting awareness during American Heart 
Month, it is important to remember that the work continues year round. 
Finally, I would like to acknowledge my colleagues who are fellow 
members of the Congressional Heart and Stroke Coalition and thank them 
for their efforts. I encourage those members who have not yet joined 
the Coalition to do so. The Coalition will continue to work with the 
Association throughout the year in the fight against America's number 
one killer.

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