[House Report 117-427]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


117th Congress    }                                  {       Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 2d Session       }                                  {       117-427

======================================================================

 
      SOUTH ASIAN HEART HEALTH AWARENESS AND RESEARCH ACT OF 2022

                                _______
                                

 July 21, 2022.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 
              State of the Union and ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

 Mr. Pallone, from the Committee on Energy and Commerce, submitted the 
                               following

                              R E P O R T

                             together with

                             MINORITY VIEWS

                        [To accompany H.R. 3771]

    The Committee on Energy and Commerce, to whom was referred 
the bill (H.R. 3771) to amend the Public Health Service Act to 
provide for research and improvement of cardiovascular health 
among the South Asian population of the United States, and for 
other purposes, having considered the same, reports favorably 
thereon with an amendment and recommends that the bill as 
amended do pass.

                                CONTENTS

                                                                   Page
   I. Purpose and Summary.............................................2
  II. Background and Need for the Legislation.........................3
 III. Committee Hearings..............................................4
  IV. Committee Consideration.........................................4
   V. Committee Votes.................................................5
  VI. Oversight Findings..............................................7
 VII. New Budget Authority, Entitlement Authority, and Tax Expenditure7
VIII. Federal Mandates Statement......................................7
  IX. Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives...........7
   X. Duplication of Federal Programs.................................7
  XI. Committee Cost Estimate.........................................7
 XII. Earmarks, Limited Tax Benefits, and Limited Tariff Benefits.....7
XIII. Advisory Committee Statement....................................8
 XIV. Applicability to Legislative Branch.............................8
  XV. Section-by-Section Analysis of the Legislation..................8
 XVI. Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported...........8
XVII. Minority Views.................................................11

    The amendment is as follows:
  Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
following:

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

  This Act may be cited as the ``South Asian Heart Health Awareness and 
Research Act of 2022''.

SEC. 2. HEART HEALTH PROMOTION GRANTS.

  Title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 241 et seq.) is 
amended by inserting after section 317U (42 U.S.C. 247b-23) the 
following new section:

``SEC. 317V. HEART HEALTH PROMOTION GRANTS.

  ``(a) In General.--The Secretary may make grants to States for the 
purpose of promoting awareness of the increasing prevalence of heart 
disease, including, where appropriate, its relationship to type 2 
diabetes, in communities disproportionately affected by heart disease 
such as South Asian communities in the United States.
  ``(b) Use of Funds.--A State that receives a grant under subsection 
(a) shall use such grant funds--
          ``(1) to develop culturally appropriate materials on 
        evidence-based heart health promotion topics, such as nutrition 
        education, optimal diet plans, and programs for regular 
        exercise;
          ``(2) to support heart health promotion activities of 
        community organizations that work with or serve communities 
        disproportionately affected by heart disease, such as South 
        Asian communities in the United States; or
          ``(3) to support, with respect to research conducted relating 
        to heart disease, conferences and workshops on how practices, 
        methodologies, and designs of such research should be changed 
        to include in such research more members of communities 
        disproportionately affected by heart disease, such as South 
        Asian communities in the United States.
  ``(c) Annual Report to Congress.--Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of the South Asian Heart Health Awareness and 
Research Act of 2022, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall 
submit to Congress a report on outreach efforts and data relating to 
heart disease in communities disproportionately affected by heart 
disease, such as South Asian communities in the United States.
  ``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--For purposes of carrying out 
this section, there is authorized to be appropriated $1,000,000 for 
each of fiscal years 2023 through 2027.''.

SEC. 3. HEART HEALTH RESEARCH.

  Part B of title IV of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 284 et 
seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

``SEC. 409K. HEART HEALTH RESEARCH.

  ``(a) In General.--The Secretary may--
          ``(1) conduct or support research and related activities 
        regarding cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and other 
        heart health-related ailments among at-risk populations, 
        including South Asian communities in the United States; and
          ``(2) establish an internet clearinghouse to catalog existing 
        evidence-based heart health research and treatment options for 
        communities disproportionately affected by heart disease, such 
        as South Asian communities in the United States, to prevent, 
        treat, or reverse heart disease and diabetes.
  ``(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--For purposes of carrying out 
this section, there is authorized to be appropriated $1,000,000 for 
each of fiscal years 2023 through 2027.''.

                         I. Purpose and Summary

    H.R. 3771, the ``South Asian Heart Health Awareness and 
Research Act of 2021,'' authorizes the Secretary of Health and 
Human Services (Secretary) to award grants to states for the 
purpose of promoting awareness of the increasing prevalence of 
heart disease, including its relationship to type 2 diabetes, 
in communities disproportionately affected by heart disease, 
such as South Asian communities in the United States. The 
legislation also authorizes the Secretary to conduct or support 
research related to cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, 
and other heart-related ailments among at-risk populations, 
including the South Asian population in the United States. The 
Secretary may also establish an internet clearinghouse to 
catalog existing heart health research and treatment options 
for vulnerable communities.

                II. Background and Need for Legislation

    Heart disease is the leading cause of death for adults in 
the United States,\1\ and risk of death from heart disease 
varies widely based on an individual's race or ethnicity.\2\ 
Risk of and death rates from heart disease are shaped by 
systemic health disparities, as members of minority groups 
often confront more barriers to heart health care, including 
less culturally-competent care, and fewer proactive heart 
health interventions.\3\\4\ In turn, racial and ethnic 
minorities face an elevated risk of morbidity and mortality due 
to heart disease.\5\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, NCHS Data Brief, 
Mortality in the United States, 2020 (Dec. 2021) (www.cdc.gov/nchs/
data/databriefs/db427.pdf).
    \2\Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Heart Disease, Heart 
Disease Facts (www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/facts.htm) (accessed July 17, 
2022).
    \3\Garth Graham, Disparities in cardiovascular disease risk in the 
United States, Current Cardiology Review (Aug. 2015).
    \4\Sandeep Krishnan, South Asians and Cardiovascular Disease: The 
Hidden Threat, Cardiology Magazine American College of Cardiology (May 
17, 2019).
    \5\Id.
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    Black men have a 70 percent higher risk of heart failure 
compared to White men, and Black women have a 50 percent higher 
risk compared to White women.\6\ These trends have decreased 
the average lifespan of Black Americans to make it 
significantly shorter than that of White Americans--in fact, 
heart disease and stroke contributed to more than two million 
years of life lost among Black Americans between 1999 and 
2010.\7\ Heart disease is the leading cause of death among 
Hispanic men, and for Hispanic women, heart disease is second 
only to cancer.\8\ While South Asians comprise 23 percent of 
the world's population as of 2020, they carry approximately 60 
percent of the world's global burden of heart disease.\9\ South 
Asian Americans are also more likely to die of atherosclerotic 
cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) than other Asian Americans and 
non-Hispanic White Americans.\10\ In addition, the increased 
risk and disproportionate impact that heart disease has on the 
South Asian American community is often obscured due to lack of 
data, since South Asian Americans are often grouped with other 
Asian Americans.\11\ In 2019, the American Heart Association 
and other medical groups issued updated cholesterol guidelines 
that, for the first time, urged doctors to consider ethnicity 
when determining a patient's cardiovascular risk and treatment 
options.\12\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \6\Cleveland Clinic, How Race and Ethnicity Impact Heart Disease 
(my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/23051-ethnicity-and-heart-
disease) (accessed July 18, 2022).
    \7\Mercedes R. Carnethon, et al., Cardiovascular Health in African 
Americans: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association, 
Circulation (Oct. 23, 2017).
    \8\See note 2.
    \9\Pablo Martinez-Amezcua et al., The Upcoming Epidemic of Heart 
Failure in South Asia, Circulation: Heart Failure An American Heart 
Association Journal (Sep. 23, 2020).
    \10\Annabelle Santos Volgman et al., Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular 
Disease in South Asians in the United States: Epidemiology, Risk 
Factors, and Treatments: A Scientific Statement from the American Heart 
Association, Circulation: An American Heart Association Journal (May 
24, 2018).
    \11\Sandeep Krishnan, South Asians and Cardiovascular Disease: The 
Hidden Threat, Cardiology Magazine (May 17, 2019).
    \12\Ethnicity a `risk-enhancing' factor under new cholesterol 
guidelines, American Heart Association News (Jan. 11, 2019) 
(www.heart.org/en/news/2019/01/11/ethnicity-a-risk-enhancing-factor-
under-new-cholesterol-guidelines).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    H.R. 3771 aims to address these trends by allowing states 
to direct culturally appropriate resources to communities that 
are disproportionately impacted by heart disease, with the goal 
of increasing awareness and promoting prevention tools and 
methods. These grants may also support conferences and 
workshops on how practices, methodologies, and designs of heart 
disease research should be changed to include those 
disproportionately affected by the disease. The legislation 
also supports research efforts on cardiovascular disease, type 
2 diabetes, and other heart health-related ailments among at 
risk populations.
    Heart disease risk in the United States has also been 
exacerbated by the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) 
pandemic. One study found that beyond the first 30 days of 
infection, people with COVID-19 exhibited increased risks of 
cardiovascular diseases, including cerebrovascular disorders, 
dysrhythmias, inflammatory heart disease, ischemic heart 
disease, heart failure, thromboembolic disease and other 
cardiac disorders.\13\ In addition, during the COVID-19 
pandemic in the United States, Black, Hispanic, and Asian 
populations experienced a disproportionate rise in deaths 
caused by heart disease and cerebrovascular disease.\14\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \13\Yan Xie, et. al., Long-term cardiovascular outcomes of COVID-
19, Nature Medicine (Feb. 7, 2022).
    \14\Rishi K. Wadhera, et. al., Racial and Ethnic Disparities in 
Heart and Cerebrovascular Disease Deaths During the COVID-19 Pandemic 
in the United States (May 18, 2021).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Due to the ``silent'' nature of heart disease, it is 
sometimes not diagnosed until an individual experiences the 
signs or symptoms of a heart attack, heart failure, or 
arrhythmia.\15\ Heart disease prevention, particularly the 
awareness, research, and treatment options that will be 
promoted through this legislation, is important to decrease 
these negative outcomes.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \15\Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, About Heart Disease 
(www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/about.htm) (accessed July 18, 2022).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

                        III. Committee Hearings

    For the purposes of section 3(c) of rule XIII of the Rules 
of the House of Representatives, the following hearing was used 
to develop or consider H.R. 3771:
    The Subcommittee on Health held a hearing on Wednesday, 
June 17, 2020, entitled, ``Heath Care Inequality: Confronting 
Racial and Ethnic Disparities in COVID-19 and the Health Care 
System.'' The Subcommittee received testimony from the 
following witnesses:
           Rhea Boyd, M.D., M.P.H., Pediatrician and 
        Child Health Advocate, Palo Alto Medical Foundation;
           Oliver T. Brooks, M.D., President, National 
        Medical Association;
           Avik S. A. Roy, President, The Foundation 
        for Research on Equal Opportunity.

                      IV. Committee Consideration

    H.R. 3771, the ``South Asian Heart Health Awareness and 
Research Act of 2021,'' was introduced on June 8, 2021, by 
Representative Jayapal (D-WA) and 19 original bipartisan 
cosponsors and referred to the Committee on Energy and 
Commerce. Subsequently, on June 9, 2021, the bill was referred 
to the Subcommittee on Health.
    On May 11, 2022, the Subcommittee on Health met in open 
markup session, pursuant to notice, to consider H.R. 3771 and 
five other bills. During consideration of the bill, an 
amendment was offered by Representative Pallone and agreed to 
by a voice vote. Upon conclusion of consideration of the bill, 
the Subcommittee on Health agreed to report the bill favorably 
to the full Committee, amended, by a voice vote.
    On May 18, 2022, the full Committee met in open markup 
session, pursuant to notice, to consider H.R. 3771 and five 
other bills. During consideration of the bill, no amendments 
were offered. Upon conclusion of consideration of the bill, the 
full Committee agreed to a motion on final passage offered by 
Representative Pallone, Chairman of the Committee, to order 
H.R. 3771 reported favorably to the House, as amended by the 
Subcommittee on Health, by a roll call vote of 31 yeas to 24 
nays.

                           V. Committee Votes

    Clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives requires the Committee to list each record vote 
on the motion to report legislation and amendments thereto. The 
Committee advises that there was one record vote taken on H.R. 
3771, including a motion by Mr. Pallone ordering H.R. 3771 
favorably reported to the House, amended. The motion on final 
passage of the bill was approved by a record vote of 31 yeas to 
24 nays. The following are the record votes taken during 
Committee consideration, including the names of those members 
voting for and against:

	[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

                         VI. Oversight Findings

    Pursuant to clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII and clause 2(b)(1) 
of rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the 
oversight findings and recommendations of the Committee are 
reflected in the descriptive portion of the report.

 VII. New Budget Authority, Entitlement Authority, and Tax Expenditures

    Pursuant to 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House 
of Representatives, the Committee adopts as its own the 
estimate of new budget authority, entitlement authority, or tax 
expenditures or revenues contained in the cost estimate 
prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office 
pursuant to section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 
1974.
    The Committee has requested but not received from the 
Director of the Congressional Budget Office a statement as to 
whether this bill contains any new budget authority, spending 
authority, credit authority, or an increase or decrease in 
revenues or tax expenditures.

                    VIII. Federal Mandates Statement

    The Committee adopts as its own the estimate of Federal 
mandates prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget 
Office pursuant to section 423 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform 
Act.

       IX. Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives

    Pursuant to clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII, the general 
performance goal or objective of this legislation is to provide 
for research and improvement of cardiovascular health among the 
South Asian population of the United States, and for other 
purposes.

                   X. Duplication of Federal Programs

    Pursuant to clause 3(c)(5) of rule XIII, no provision of 
H.R. 3771 is known to be duplicative of another Federal 
program, including any program that was included in a report to 
Congress pursuant to section 21 of Public Law 111-139 or the 
most recent Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance.

                      XI. Committee Cost Estimate

    Pursuant to clause 3(d)(1) of rule XIII, the Committee 
adopts as its own the cost estimate prepared by the Director of 
the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 402 of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974.

    XII. Earmarks, Limited Tax Benefits, and Limited Tariff Benefits

    Pursuant to clause 9(e), 9(f), and 9(g) of rule XXI, the 
Committee finds that H.R. 3771 contains no earmarks, limited 
tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits.

                   XIII. Advisory Committee Statement

    No advisory committee within the meaning of section 5(b) of 
the Federal Advisory Committee Act was created by this 
legislation.

                XIV. Applicability to Legislative Branch

    The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to 
the terms and conditions of employment or access to public 
services or accommodations within the meaning of section 
102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act.

           XV. Section-by-Section Analysis of the Legislation


Section 1. Short title

    Section 1 designates that the short title may be cited as 
the ``South Asian Heart Health Awareness and Research Act of 
2021.''

Sec. 2. Heart health promotion grants

    Section 2 authorizes the Secretary to make grants for the 
purpose of promoting awareness of the increasing prevalence of 
heart disease, including, where appropriate, its relationship 
to type 2 diabetes, in communities disproportionately affected 
by heart disease such as South Asian communities in the United 
States. These grants may be used to: (1) develop culturally 
appropriate materials on evidence-based heart health promotion 
topics, such as nutrition education, optimal diet plans, and 
programs for regular exercise; (2) support heart health 
promotion activities of community organizations that work with 
or serve communities disproportionately affected by heart 
disease; and (3) support conferences and workshops relating to 
heart disease. Section 2 also requires the Secretary to submit 
a report to Congress on outreach efforts and data relating to 
heart disease in communities disproportionately affected by 
heart disease no later than 18 months after enactment, and 
annually thereafter. For the purposes of carrying out this 
section, the legislation authorizes $1 million for each of 
fiscal years 2023 through 2027.

Sec. 3. Heart health research

    Section 3 authorizes the Secretary to conduct or support 
research and related activities regarding cardiovascular 
disease, type 2 diabetes, and other heart health-related 
ailments among at risk populations, including South Asian 
communities in the United States, and to establish an internet 
clearinghouse to catalog existing evidence-based heart health 
research and treatment options for communities 
disproportionately affected by heart disease. For the purposes 
of carrying out this section, the legislation authorizes $1 
million for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2027.

       XVI. Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported

  In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by 
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (new matter is 
printed in italics and existing law in which no change is 
proposed is shown in roman):

                       PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE ACT



           *       *       *       *       *       *       *
TITLE III--GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES OF PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


Part B--Federal-State Cooperation

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


SEC. 317V. HEART HEALTH PROMOTION GRANTS.

  (a) In General.--The Secretary may make grants to States for 
the purpose of promoting awareness of the increasing prevalence 
of heart disease, including, where appropriate, its 
relationship to type 2 diabetes, in communities 
disproportionately affected by heart disease such as South 
Asian communities in the United States.
  (b) Use of Funds.--A State that receives a grant under 
subsection (a) shall use such grant funds--
          (1) to develop culturally appropriate materials on 
        evidence-based heart health promotion topics, such as 
        nutrition education, optimal diet plans, and programs 
        for regular exercise;
          (2) to support heart health promotion activities of 
        community organizations that work with or serve 
        communities disproportionately affected by heart 
        disease, such as South Asian communities in the United 
        States; or
          (3) to support, with respect to research conducted 
        relating to heart disease, conferences and workshops on 
        how practices, methodologies, and designs of such 
        research should be changed to include in such research 
        more members of communities disproportionately affected 
        by heart disease, such as South Asian communities in 
        the United States.
  (c) Annual Report to Congress.--Not later than 180 days after 
the date of the enactment of the South Asian Heart Health 
Awareness and Research Act of 2022, and annually thereafter, 
the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on outreach 
efforts and data relating to heart disease in communities 
disproportionately affected by heart disease, such as South 
Asian communities in the United States.
  (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--For purposes of 
carrying out this section, there is authorized to be 
appropriated $1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 through 
2027.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


TITLE IV--NATIONAL RESEARCH INSTITUTES

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


Part B--General Provisions Respecting National Research Institutes

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


SEC. 409K. HEART HEALTH RESEARCH.

  (a) In General.--The Secretary may--
          (1) conduct or support research and related 
        activities regarding cardiovascular disease, type 2 
        diabetes, and other heart health-related ailments among 
        at-risk populations, including South Asian communities 
        in the United States; and
          (2) establish an internet clearinghouse to catalog 
        existing evidence-based heart health research and 
        treatment options for communities disproportionately 
        affected by heart disease, such as South Asian 
        communities in the United States, to prevent, treat, or 
        reverse heart disease and diabetes.
  (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--For purposes of 
carrying out this section, there is authorized to be 
appropriated $1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 through 
2027.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


                          XVII. MINORITY VIEWS

    Strengthening critical public health infrastructure, 
investing in pandemic preparedness, and reducing the burden of 
disease continue to be important issues to Americans. House 
Republicans have consistently shown a commitment to advancing 
these initiatives, through passage of the 21st Century Cures 
Act, reauthorization of the Pandemic and All Hazards 
Preparedness Act, and reauthorization Food and Drug 
Administration user fee programs. Furthermore, Republicans have 
been steadfast in their support for heart health promotion and 
cardiovascular research through consistent and robust funding 
of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and through passage 
of H.R. 1193, Cardiovascular Advances in Research and 
Opportunities Legacy (CAROL) Act. Unfortunately, H.R. 3771, the 
South Asian Heart Health Awareness and Research Act of 2022, 
misses the mark and does nothing to meaningfully improve 
cardiovascular health of Americans. Not is not the time to 
create duplicative authorizations that contribute to mission 
creep at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 
when the CDC's management of an ongoing pandemic has arguably 
been abysmal.
    Section 2 of the legislation mandates that the CDC make 
grants to states for the purposes of promoting awareness of the 
increasing prevalence of heart disease, targeting South Asian 
communities. The CDC's National Center for Chronic Disease 
Prevention and Health Promotion, which received over a billion 
dollars for fiscal year 2022, includes the Division for Heart 
Disease and Stroke Prevention (DHDSP), which already supports 
outreach to populations, including South Asian Americans, at 
high risk for heart disease. CDC-supported heart health 
initiatives currently exist in all 50 states and the District 
of Columbia, local health departments, and tribes.
    Creation of a duplicative authorization at the CDC is not 
what the Congress should be focusing on. The CDC is tasked with 
``fighting diseases before they reach our borders and detecting 
and confronting new germs and diseases around the globe to 
increase our national security.''\1\ Given the failures of the 
agency throughout the ongoing pandemic with emerging Covid-19 
variants, and the poorly managed control of the current 
Monkeypox outbreak, Republicans are disappointed with the 
timing of this legislation and the message it sends to the 
agency to double down on the wrong priorities.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Mission, Role and 
Pledge (https://www.cdc.gov/about/organization/mission.htm) (accessed 
July 20, 2022).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Section 3 of the legislation authorizes additional NIH 
research on heart health. Republicans on the Energy and 
Commerce Committee have a strong and consistent record of 
supporting research on heart disease for at-risk populations, 
including South Asian communities. However, the Federal 
government, including the NIH and the CDC, already has numerous 
programs underway that support heart health and cardiovascular 
research. Energy and Commerce Committee Republicans are 
exhausted by the continued unending efforts by Democrats to 
create and mandate new programs that duplicate existing 
programs.
    Section 3 also mandates the establishment of an Internet-
based clearinghouse to catalog existing research and treatment 
for communities disproportionately affected by heart disease 
and diabetes. The NIH, CDC, the Patient-Centered Outcomes 
Research Institute (PCORI) and other private foundations 
including the American Heart Association already provide easily 
accessibly information on the Internet regarding their 
cardiovascular programs, campaigns, and research. Republicans 
are disappointed that Democrats failed to review these existing 
initiatives before advancing this legislation in to avoid 
duplication of effort. The CDC especially currently has an 
extensive repository of resources,\2\ open to the public and 
all healthcare providers including:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \2\Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Heart Disease 
(https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/index.htm) (accessed July 20, 2022).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
           About Health Disease
           Know your Risk for Heart Disease
           Prevent Heart Disease
           Resources for Health Professionals--tools to 
        help your patients
           Women and Heart Disease
           WISEWOMEN
           2022 Million Hearts Hypertension Challenge
           Alliance for Million Hearts Campaign Toolkit
    As of December 2021, PCORI has awarded $397 million dollars 
to fund 83 comparative clinical effectiveness research studies 
related to cardiovascular disease, studies including those that 
target women and special populations.\3\ Over the past decade, 
the NIH has spent billions on federal grants targeting heart 
disease and coronary heart disease, and even has an institute, 
the National Heart, Lung Blood Institute (NHLBI) that is 
specifically dedicated to cardiovascular research, prioritizing 
research for persons at high-risk for heart disease.\4\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \3\Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute, PCORI Funded 
Studies Spotlight Heart Disease in Women (February 22, 2022) (https://
www.pcori.org/blog/pcori-funded-studies-spotlight-heart-disease-women).
    \4\National Institutes of Health, Estimates of Funding for Various 
Research, Condition, 
and Disease Categories (RCDC) (May 16, 2022) (https://report.nih.gov/
funding/categorical-spending#/).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    In summary, Republicans support ongoing focus on efforts to 
reduce the risk of heart disease and improve the lives of 
Americans with cardiovascular health issues. However, unlike 
Democrats, Republicans seek accountability and evaluation of 
the NIH and CDC's ongoing programs prior to supporting new and 
duplicative authorizations. Republicans continue to be good 
stewards of precious taxpayer dollars and look for 
opportunities to reduce duplication of services and programs 
across the federal government. This is not the time for more 
federal programs when the country is already experiencing 
record high inflation, the likes of which have not been seen in 
40 years, and due to profligate federal spending.\5\
     
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \5\US Inflation Calculator, Historical Inflation Rates: 1914-2022 
(https://www.usinflationcalculator.com/inflation/historical-inflation-
rates/) (accessed July 20, 2022).
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                                    Cathy McMorris Rodgers,
               Republican Leader, Committee on Energy and Commerce.

                                  
                                  
                                  [all]