[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 8514]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING THE AMERICAN STROKE FOUNDATION AND SHOWING SUPPORT FOR H.R. 
          477, THE STROKE TREATMENT AND ONGOING PREVENTION ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EMANUEL CLEAVER

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 29, 2007

  Mr. CLEAVER. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 477, the 
Stroke Treatment and Ongoing Prevention Act and to honor the American 
Stroke Foundation (ASF). Founded in 1997 in the Kansas City 
Metropolitan Area, the ASF supports stroke survivors, their families, 
caregivers and friends by providing resources, services, education and 
information that improves their quality of life.
  Every forty-five seconds, someone suffers from a stroke. Blood supply 
to the brain is interrupted, causing a loss of brain function and 
possibly brain damage. Every three minutes, someone dies from a stroke.
  Stroke is the number one cause of adult disability and the third 
leading cause of death in the United States. About 700,000 Americans 
suffer a stroke each year. Four out of five people in the U.S. either 
have had a stroke or know someone who has. My family, like the vast 
majority of American families, has been touched by stroke. I am proud 
to come before you today not only to express my commitment to doing all 
that is necessary to stop strokes, but to vote for an important step to 
ending this tragic disease.
  House Resolution 477, the Stroke Treatment and Ongoing Prevention 
Act, establishes a national grant program and public awareness program 
to help each state ensure that patients have access to quality stroke 
prevention, treatment and rehabilitation services. I was proud to 
cosponsor and vote for this legislation in previous Congresses, and I 
am proud do so again this week.
  I would like America to know about a hometown hero, who has devoted 
her time, energy and amazing spirit to helping those disabled by 
stroke. After her husband Stan's stroke, Shirley Rose realized, as I 
did when stroke struck my family, that resources for recovering stroke 
survivors and their caregivers were painfully inadequate. Shirley did 
not dwell on the need and simply retreat in dismay. No, instead, 
Shirley founded the American Stroke Foundation and from their two 
locations in Kansas and Missouri, ASF has worked to improve the lives 
of stroke survivors by providing extended rehabilitation efforts, 
creating community programs, and educating the public about strokes. 
Shirley turned her desire for the best care for her husband and her 
personal need for a support network into an organization that helps 
thousands of Americans each year cope and recover from this often-
debilitating disease.
  In 2002, thanks to efforts like those of the ASF, the United States 
had one of the lowest death rates for stroke. My home state of Missouri 
is fortunate to have one of the lowest fatality rates in the country. 
Regardless, I hope to see both of these numbers decrease as these 
essential programs are supported.
  Madam Speaker, I am proud to honor the American Stroke Foundation and 
vote for this life-saving legislation, and I ask my colleagues to join 
me today in paying tribute to this life-saving and life-improving 
organization.

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