[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 39 (Thursday, February 27, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1228-S1229]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 513--DESIGNATING FEBRUARY 2020 AS ``AMERICAN HEART 
       MONTH'' AND FEBRUARY 7, 2020, AS ``NATIONAL WEAR RED DAY''

  Ms. SINEMA (for herself, Mrs. Fischer, Ms. Hirono, Ms. Baldwin, Mrs. 
Blackburn, Ms. Cantwell, Ms. Ernst, Mrs. Capito, Mrs. Hyde-Smith, Ms. 
Klobuchar, Ms. McSally, Ms. Rosen, Mrs. Shaheen, and Ms. Stabenow) 
submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 513

       Whereas cardiovascular disease affects men, women, and 
     children of every age and race in the United States;
       Whereas, between 2003 and 2013, the death rate from 
     cardiovascular disease fell nearly 30 percent, but 
     cardiovascular 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 each year and 
     accounting for 1 in 3 deaths across the country;
       Whereas congenital heart defects are the--
       (1) most common birth defect in the United States; and
       (2) leading killer of infants with birth defects;
       Whereas, each year, an estimated 800,000 individuals in the 
     United States have a heart attack, of whom an estimated 
     115,000 die;
       Whereas, in 2015, cardiovascular disease accounted for 
     approximately $555,000,000,000 in health care expenditures 
     and lost productivity;
       Whereas it is estimated that cardiovascular disease will 
     account for approximately $1,093,900,000,000 in health care 
     expenditures and lost productivity annually by 2035;
       Whereas individuals in the United States have made great 
     progress in reducing the death rate for cardiovascular 
     disease, but this progress has been more modest with respect 
     to the death rate for cardiovascular disease in women and 
     minorities;
       Whereas many people do not recognize that cardiovascular 
     disease is the leading killer of women in the United States, 
     taking the lives of over 400,000 women in 2017;
       Whereas over \1/2\ of all African-American adults have some 
     form of cardiovascular disease, including 57.1 percent of 
     African-American women and 60.1 percent of African-American 
     men;
       Whereas Alaska Natives and American Indians are more likely 
     to die from cardiovascular disease than individuals from 
     other ethnic groups;
       Whereas Native Hawaiians have higher mortality rates and 
     die at a younger average age from cardiovascular disease than 
     other ethnic groups in Hawaii;

[[Page S1229]]

       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 are 
     less likely to know of the risk;
       Whereas women constitute about 20 percent of enrolled 
     patients in cardiovascular disease clinical trials;
       Whereas, due to the differences in cardiovascular disease 
     between men and women, more research and data on the effects 
     of cardiovascular disease treatments for women is vital;
       Whereas veterans have higher rates of cardiovascular 
     disease than nonveterans;
       Whereas female veterans are less likely than male veterans 
     to be included in studies on the effects of cardiovascular 
     disease on veterans;
       Whereas female veterans are less likely than male veterans 
     to receive adequate treatment for cardiovascular disease;
       Whereas extensive clinical and statistical studies have 
     identified major and contributing factors that increase the 
     risk of cardiovascular disease, including--
       (1) high blood pressure;
       (2) high blood cholesterol;
       (3) using tobacco products;
       (4) exposure to tobacco smoke;
       (5) physical inactivity;
       (6) obesity; and
       (7) 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 for cardiovascular disease can improve and save the 
     lives of many 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 red'' to increase 
     awareness about cardiovascular 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--
       (A) February 2020 as ``American Heart Month''; and
       (B) February 7, 2020, 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 of the United 
     States to--
       (A) promoting awareness about the causes, risks, and 
     prevention of cardiovascular disease;
       (B) supporting research on cardiovascular disease; and
       (C) expanding access to medical treatment for 
     cardiovascular disease;
       (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 his or her risk for cardiovascular disease.

                          ____________________