[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 65 (Thursday, April 15, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1984-S1985]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. McCONNELL (for himself and Ms. Sinema):
  S. 1133. A bill to direct the Director of the National Institutes of 
Health, in consultation with the Director of the National Heart, Lung, 
and Blood Institute, to establish a program to support or conduct 
research on valvular heart disease, and for other purposes; to the 
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, now, on an entirely different matter, 
colleagues in Congress and my fellow Kentuckians were heartbroken last 
June when our dear friend, Carol Leavell Barr, suddenly and 
unexpectedly passed away.
  She left behind two beautiful young daughters and an adoring husband 
in Congressman   Andy Barr. She was only 39 years old. Since then, we 
have learned her fatal heart attack was likely the result of an 
underlying condition called mitral valve prolapse.
  Carol was diagnosed at a young age. Like millions of Americans with 
heart valve defects, she lived for many years with no apparent 
symptoms. Tragically, it only took an instant for her condition to turn 
deadly. Approximately 25,000 Americans each year lose their lives from 
this heart valve disease. Her passing deprived the Barr family of an 
extraordinary wife and mother. We all lost a warm and uplifting friend.
  One of the most troubling aspects of this syndrome is just how much 
we still don't know. So Congressman Barr is taking action. He 
introduced the Cardiovascular Advances in Research and Opportunities 
Legacy Act, the CAROL Act. It would encourage new research into 
valvular heart disease, help us better understand the risks, and bring 
together top experts to identify potential treatments.
  With this legislation, we can help prevent more families from 
enduring this tragedy. More than 120 House colleagues have already 
cosponsored the CAROL Act. It has also earned the support of major 
health advocacy groups.
  So today, I am proud to introduce the CAROL Act here in the Senate. I 
am grateful to partner with Senator Sinema, one of Congressman Barr's 
friends from their days serving together in the House. This important 
legislation is a fitting tribute to a wonderful Kentuckian. It embodies 
Carol's lifetime of service to others, and I look forward to its 
passage.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.

[[Page S1985]]

  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows

                                S. 1133

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Cardiovascular Advances in 
     Research and Opportunities Legacy Act''.

     SEC. 2. GRANTS FOR VALVULAR HEART DISEASE RESEARCH.

       Subpart 2 of part C of title IV of the Public Health 
     Service Act (42 U.S.C. 285b et seq.) is amended by inserting 
     after section 424C the following:

     ``SEC. 424D. GRANTS FOR VALVULAR HEART DISEASE RESEARCH.

       ``(a) In General.--The Director of the National Institutes 
     of Health, in consultation with the Director of the 
     Institute, shall support or conduct research regarding 
     valvular heart disease.
       ``(b) Support Guidelines.--The distribution of funding 
     authorized in subsection (a) may be used to pursue any of the 
     following outcomes:
       ``(1) Using precision medicine and advanced technological 
     imaging to generate data on individuals with valvular heart 
     disease.
       ``(2) Identifying and developing a cohort of individuals 
     with valvular heart disease and available data.
       ``(3) Corroborating data generated through clinical trials 
     to develop a prediction model to distinguish individuals at 
     high risk for sudden cardiac arrest or sudden cardiac death 
     from valvular heart disease.
       ``(4) Other outcomes needed to acquire necessary data on 
     valvular heart disease.
       ``(c) Mitral Valve Prolapse Workshop.--Not later than one 
     year after the date of enactment of this section, the 
     Director of the Institute shall convene a workshop composed 
     of subject matter experts and stakeholders to identify 
     research needs and opportunities to develop prescriptive 
     guidelines for treatment of individuals with mitral valve 
     prolapse.
       ``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--For the purpose of 
     carrying out this section, there is authorized to be 
     appropriated $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 
     through 2026.''.

     SEC. 3. PROGRAMS OF CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND 
                   PREVENTION.

       Part J of title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 
     U.S.C. 280b et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 
     393D the following section:

     ``SEC. 393E. PREVENTION OF SUDDEN CARDIAC DEATH AS A RESULT 
                   OF VALVULAR HEART DISEASE.

       ``(a) In General.--The Secretary, acting through the 
     Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 
     may carry out projects to increase education, awareness, or 
     diagnosis of valvular heart disease and to reduce the 
     incidence of sudden cardiac death caused by valvular heart 
     disease. Such projects may be carried out by the Secretary 
     directly or through awards of grants or contracts to public 
     or nonprofit private entities. The Secretary may directly (or 
     through such awards) provide technical assistance with 
     respect to the planning, development, and operation of such 
     projects.
       ``(b) Certain Activities.--Projects carried out under 
     subsection (a) may include--
       ``(1) the implementation of public information and 
     education programs for--
       ``(A) the prevention of sudden cardiac death from valvular 
     heart disease;
       ``(B) broadening the awareness of the public concerning the 
     risk factors for, the symptoms of, and the public health 
     consequences of, valvular heart disease; and
       ``(C) increasing screening, detection, and diagnosis of 
     valvular heart disease; and
       ``(2) surveillance of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests to 
     improve patient outcomes.
       ``(c) Grant Prioritization.--The Secretary may, in awarding 
     grants or entering into contracts pursuant to subsection (a), 
     give priority to entities seeking to carry out projects that 
     target populations most impacted by valvular heart disease.
       ``(d) Coordination of Activities.--The Secretary shall 
     ensure that activities under this section are coordinated, as 
     appropriate, with other agencies of the Public Health Service 
     that carry out activities regarding valvular heart disease.
       ``(e) Best Practices.--The Secretary, acting through the 
     Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 
     shall--
       ``(1) collect and analyze the findings of research 
     conducted with respect to valvular heart disease; and
       ``(2) taking into account such findings, publish on the 
     website of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
     best practices for physicians and other health care providers 
     who provide care to individuals with valvular heart disease.
       ``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--For the purpose of 
     carrying out this section, there is authorized to be 
     appropriated such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal 
     years 2022 through 2026.''.
                                 ______