[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 2]
[Senate]
[Page 2973]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 IN RECOGNITION OF AMERICAN HEART MONTH

  Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, today marks the start of American Heart 
Month. I note the occasion not as a reminder to my colleagues to 
purchase flowers or chocolates for their loved ones for Valentine's Day 
but as a reminder that we need to redouble our efforts to fight heart 
disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases.
  More than 80 million Americans--about 1 in 3 adults--are living with 
some form of cardiovascular disease. Heart disease remains the leading 
cause of death in America and stroke is the No. 3 killer. These 
devastating diseases have touched the lives of nearly every family in 
America.
  Heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases will cost 
our Nation more than $430 billion in 2007, including more than $284 
billion in direct medical costs.
  While it is true that we are making some progress, we can't win the 
fight against heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases 
without the support of Congress and the administration. Next week, the 
President will send Congress a budget proposal for fiscal year 2008. 
The budget is more than just a lengthy document--it is a statement of 
our Nation's priorities. I believe investing in cardiovascular 
research, prevention, and treatment programs should be one of our 
highest priorities.
  I was disappointed by the budget the President proposed last year. 
The administration's proposal would have scaled back funding for heart 
disease and stroke research at the National Institutes of Health, NIH, 
prevention programs at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 
CDC, and a program that helps rural communities purchase lifesaving 
medical equipment.
  The administration's fiscal year 2007 budget would have cut funding 
for the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute by $21 million and the 
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke by $11 million. 
I am grateful that Congress rejected this proposal. Our investment in 
the NIH holds enormous promise to turn the tide against so many 
devastating diseases, including heart disease and stroke.
  The President also proposed scaling back funding for the heart 
disease and stroke prevention program at the CDC. This program helps 
States design and implement plans to prevent cardiovascular disease 
before it occurs. Despite the fact that heart disease is the No. 1 
cause of death in the country and stroke is the No. 3 killer, the CDC 
does not have enough funding to implement this important program in all 
States. The CDC provides funding for 19 States to develop plans and 
another 14 States to implement the plans.
  Finally, the administration tried to eliminate funding for a program 
that helps rural communities purchase automated external 
defibrillators, AEDs. AEDs are small, laptop-size devices that help 
restore normal heart function after cardiac arrest. AEDs save lives, 
especially when placed in areas where large numbers of people 
congregate and in rural communities where emergency medical personnel 
are not readily available. I believe Congress should continue to 
provide grants to help communities purchase these lifesaving devices.
  I hope that the President does not send Congress another budget that 
proposes Draconian cuts in funding for heart disease and stroke 
research, prevention, and treatment programs. Failing to make these 
investments will have real consequences. It is projected that, if we 
don't act today, deaths from heart disease alone will increase by 
nearly 130 percent by 2050.
  I encourage my colleagues to take a few minutes during February to 
recognize American Heart Month and to join me in starting a national 
dialogue about making the fight against cardiovascular disease a 
priority.

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