[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 24 (Monday, February 5, 2024)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 7599-7600]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-02343]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 24 / Monday, February 5, 2024 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

[[Page 7599]]

                Proclamation 10698 of January 31, 2024

                
American Heart Month, 2024

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                This American Heart Month, we recommit to promoting 
                heart-healthy lifestyles, expanding access to quality 
                health care, and breaking new bounds in heart disease 
                research and treatment.

                Each year, heart disease takes the lives of nearly 
                700,000 Americans. It is the leading cause of death in 
                our country. Too many of us are familiar with the pain 
                of losing a loved one to a heart attack, stroke, or 
                coronary heart disease. There is still hope, however: 
                With the adoption of a healthy lifestyle and access to 
                good health care, these conditions can often be 
                prevented and lives can be saved.

                That is why my Administration is committed to giving 
                families the tools they need to stay healthy. In 2022, 
                we hosted the first White House Conference on Hunger, 
                Nutrition, and Health in over 50 years and released a 
                national strategy to end hunger and reduce diet-related 
                diseases by 2030. Our strategy includes improving food 
                access and affordability by providing free, healthy 
                meals to millions of students, expanding incentives for 
                fruits and vegetables in the Supplemental Nutrition 
                Assistance Program, and expanding Medicaid and Medicare 
                coverage to provide nutrition and obesity counseling.

                I have often said that health care should be a right, 
                not a privilege. Every American deserves access to the 
                health care and treatment they need. In 2022, I was 
                proud to sign the Inflation Reduction Act, which, once 
                in effect will cap the total out-of-pocket drug costs 
                for seniors and others with Medicare at $2,000 per 
                year, saving nearly 19 million families an average of 
                $400 per year. I have also improved access to dental 
                services for people with Medicare who need certain 
                cardiac procedures--these dental services have been 
                shown to reduce unnecessary and preventable acute and 
                chronic complications for the patient. These measures 
                ensure that people on Medicare who have heart disease 
                will be better able to access the preventative services 
                and treatments they need.

                Additionally, we are working to advance new 
                breakthroughs on a range of diseases. Our Advanced 
                Research Projects Agency for Health is working to 
                accelerate major biomedical innovations in preventing, 
                detecting, and treating life-threatening conditions 
                like Alzheimer's, diabetes, and cancer. This is the 
                kind of progress that can lead to new advancements for 
                cardiovascular diseases.

                It is also important for every American to be aware of 
                individual actions we can take to keep our hearts 
                healthy: Exercising regularly, eating well, managing 
                weight, and avoiding smoking or vaping are proven to 
                reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Experts also 
                recommend that everyone should learn the warning signs 
                of a heart attack and stroke and that they should 
                consult a doctor if they experience risk factors or 
                symptoms.

                This Friday, February 2nd, I encourage every American 
                to raise awareness about heart health by wearing red on 
                National Wear Red Day. During American Heart Month, may 
                we remember the lives of all those who have been lost 
                to heart conditions and all the people who live with 
                these conditions

[[Page 7600]]

                each day. My Administration will continue working to 
                put a heart-healthy lifestyle within the reach of every 
                American.

                To learn more about heart health, please talk to your 
                health care provider or visit CDC.gov/heartdisease.

                In acknowledgement of the importance of the ongoing 
                fight against cardiovascular disease, the Congress, by 
                Joint Resolution approved December 30, 1963, as amended 
                (36 U.S.C. 101), has requested that the President issue 
                an annual proclamation designating February as 
                ``American Heart Month.''

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of 
                the United States of America, do hereby proclaim 
                February 2024 as American Heart Month, and I invite all 
                Americans to participate in National Wear Red Day on 
                February 2, 2024. I also 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 
                recognizing and reaffirming our commitment to fighting 
                cardiovascular disease and extending the promise of a 
                long and healthy life across this country.

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                thirty-first day of January, in the year of our Lord 
                two thousand twenty-four, and of the Independence of 
                the United States of America the two hundred and forty-
                eighth.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 2024-02343
Filed 2-2-24; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3395-F4-P