[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 19 (Friday, February 3, 2017)]
[Senate]
[Pages S681-S682]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE RESOLUTION 45--DESIGNATING FEBRUARY 2017 AS ``AMERICAN HEART 
       MONTH'' AND FEBRUARY 3, 2017, AS ``NATIONAL WEAR RED DAY''

  Ms. HIRONO (for herself, Ms. Murkowski, Ms. Warren, Ms. Hassan, Mrs. 
Fischer, Ms. Stabenow, Mrs. Shaheen, Ms. Baldwin, Mrs. Capito, Ms. 
Heitkamp, Mrs. Feinstein, Ms. Klobuchar, Ms. Collins, Ms. Cantwell, 
Mrs. Murray, Mr. Durbin, and Ms. Duckworth) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary:

                               S. Res. 45

       Whereas heart disease affects men, women, and children of 
     every age and race in the United States;
       Whereas, between 2003 and 2013, the death rate from heart 
     disease fell nearly 30 percent, but heart disease continues 
     to be the leading cause of death in the United States, taking 
     the lives of approximately 800,000 individuals in the United 
     States and accounting for 1 in 3 deaths across the United 
     States;
       Whereas congenital heart defects are the most common birth 
     defect in the United States, as well as the leading killer of 
     infants with birth defects;
       Whereas, each year, an estimated 790,000 individuals in the 
     United States have a heart attack, of whom an estimated 
     115,000 die;
       Whereas cardiovascular disease and stroke account for 
     $555,000,000,000 in health care expenditures and lost 
     productivity annually;
       Whereas, by 2030, cardiovascular disease and stroke will 
     account for $1,093,900,000,000 in health care expenditures 
     and lost productivity annually;
       Whereas individuals in the United States have made great 
     progress in reducing the death rate for coronary heart 
     disease, but this progress has been more modest with respect 
     to the death rate for coronary heart disease for women and 
     minorities;
       Whereas many people do not recognize that heart disease is 
     the number 1 killer of women in the United States, taking the 
     lives of 298,840 women in 2015;
       Whereas nearly \2/3\ of women who unexpectedly die of heart 
     disease have no previous symptoms of disease;
       Whereas nearly \1/2\ of all African-American adults have 
     some form of cardiovascular disease, including 48 percent of 
     African-American women and 44 percent of African-American 
     men;
       Whereas Alaska Natives die from heart disease at younger 
     ages than individuals from other ethnic groups;
       Whereas it is estimated that 36 percent of Alaska Natives 
     and American Indians who die of cardiovascular disease die 
     before reaching 65 years of age;
       Whereas many minority women, including African-American, 
     Hispanic, Asian-American, and Native-American women and women 
     from indigenous populations, have a greater prevalence of 
     risk factors or are at a higher risk of death from heart 
     disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases, but such 
     women are less likely to know of the risk;
       Whereas, between 1965 and 2017, treatment of cardiovascular 
     disease for women has largely been based on medical research 
     on men;
       Whereas, due to the differences in heart disease between 
     men and women, more research and data on the effects of heart 
     disease treatments for women is vital;
       Whereas extensive clinical and statistical studies have 
     identified major and contributing factors that increase the 
     risk of heart disease, including high blood pressure, high 
     blood cholesterol, smoking tobacco products, exposure to 
     tobacco smoke, physical inactivity, obesity, and diabetes 
     mellitus;
       Whereas an individual can greatly reduce the risk of 
     cardiovascular disease through lifestyle modification coupled 
     with medical treatment when necessary;
       Whereas greater awareness and early detection of risk 
     factors of heart disease can improve and save the lives of 
     thousands of individuals in the United States each year;
       Whereas, under section 101(1) of title 36, United States 
     Code, the President is requested to 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

[[Page S682]]

     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 of February as American 
     Heart Month: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates February 2017 as ``American Heart Month'' 
     and February 3, 2017, as ``National Wear Red Day'';
       (2) supports the goals and ideals of American Heart Month 
     and National Wear Red Day;
       (3) recognizes and reaffirms the commitment in the United 
     States to fighting heart disease and stroke by--
       (A) promoting awareness about the causes, risks, and 
     prevention of heart disease and stroke;
       (B) supporting research on heart disease and stroke; and
       (C) expanding access to medical treatment;
       (4) commends the efforts of States, territories and 
     possessions of the United States, localities, nonprofit 
     organizations, businesses and other entities, and the people 
     of the United States who support American Heart Month and 
     National Wear Red Day; and
       (5) encourages every individual in the United States to 
     learn about the risk of the individual for heart disease.

                          ____________________