[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 23 (Thursday, February 3, 2000)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 5219-5220]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-2538]


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                         Presidential Documents 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 23 / Thursday, February 3, 2000 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

[[Page 5219]]

                Proclamation 7271 of February 1, 2000

                
American Heart Month, 2000

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                In the past half century, our Nation has made enormous 
                progress in the fight against heart disease. Through 
                careful research, scientists and doctors have 
                identified key factors--including smoking, high blood 
                pressure, high blood cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, 
                and physical inactivity--that increase the risk of 
                heart disease. Working with dedication and 
                determination, they have developed new treatments and 
                procedures, such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation, 
                defibrillation, clot-dissolving medicines, angioplasty, 
                and cardiac imaging devices, that have saved many 
                lives. As a result of these advances, the death rate 
                from coronary heart disease has fallen dramatically in 
                our Nation, with a nearly 60-percent reduction since 
                its peak in the mid-1960s.

                While these developments are significant, heart disease 
                remains a serious health problem. Despite our knowledge 
                of the importance of exercise and a proper diet to 
                maintaining a healthy heart, studies indicate that both 
                physical inactivity and obesity are on the rise 
                throughout our country. Today, more than 58 million 
                Americans have one or more types of cardiovascular 
                disease (CVD), and each year nearly 1 million Americans 
                die from CVD--more than from the next 7 leading causes 
                of death combined. Furthermore, rates of coronary heart 
                disease deaths and the prevalence of some risk factors 
                remain disproportionately high in minority and low-
                income populations.

                As we stand at the dawn of this new century, it is 
                crucial that we build on the developments of the last 
                century to reduce the incidence of CVD, to address the 
                disparity among various segments of our population, and 
                to make further progress in the fight against heart 
                disease. To help meet this challenge, my Administration 
                has launched the Healthy People 2010 initiative, which 
                addresses health problems that can be prevented through 
                better care and increased public awareness. Among the 
                initiative's ambitious goals are improving the 
                prevention, detection, and treatment of heart disease 
                risk factors, earlier identification and quicker 
                response in the treatment of heart attacks, and 
                prevention of recurrent cardiovascular events, such as 
                second strokes.

                The work of researchers at the National Human Genome 
                Research Institute of the National Institutes of Health 
                (NIH) also holds great promise for the fight against 
                heart disease. With the completion of their monumental 
                project of mapping and sequencing all human 
                chromosomes, we will soon have the capability to 
                identify at birth all those who are genetically 
                predisposed to heart disease and provide them with the 
                treatment and guidance they need through the years to 
                live longer, healthier lives.

                The Federal Government will continue to support 
                research and public education to improve heart health 
                through the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, 
                also at NIH. And all Americans should remain grateful 
                that the American Heart Association, through its 
                research and education programs and its vital network 
                of dedicated volunteers, maintains a crucial role in 
                bringing about much-needed advances in the prevention 
                and treatment of heart disease.

[[Page 5220]]

                In recognition of the importance of the ongoing fight 
                against cardiovascular disease, the Congress, by Joint 
                Resolution approved December 20, 1963 (77 Stat. 843; 36 
                U.S.C. 101b), has requested that the President issue an 
                annual proclamation designating February as ``American 
                Heart Month.''

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM J. CLINTON, President of the 
                United States of America, do hereby proclaim February 
                2000 as American Heart Month. I invite the Governors of 
                the States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, officials 
                of other areas subject to the jurisdiction of the 
                United States, and the American people to join me in 
                reaffirming our commitment to combating cardiovascular 
                disease and strokes.

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                first day of February, in the year of our Lord two 
                thousand, and of the Independence of the United States 
                of America the two hundred and twenty-fourth.

                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 00-2538
Filed 2-2-00; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P