[Pages H1927-H1929]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF AMERICAN HEART MONTH

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to
the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 52) supporting the goals and
ideals of American Heart Month.
The Clerk read as follows:

H. Con. Res. 52

Whereas heart disease affects adult men and women of every
age and race in the United States;
Whereas heart disease continues to be the leading cause of
death in the United States;
Whereas an estimated 79 million adult Americans, nearly one
in every 3, have 1 or more types of heart disease, including
high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, congestive heart
failure, stroke, and congenital heart defects;
Whereas extensive clinical and statistical studies have
identified major and contributing factors that increase the
risk of heart disease;
Whereas these studies have identified the following as
major risk factors that cannot be changed: age (the risk of
developing heart disease gradually increases as people age;
advanced age significantly increases the risk); gender (men
have greater risk of developing heart disease than women);
and heredity (children of parents with heart disease are more
likely to develop it themselves; African Americans have more
severe high blood pressure than Caucasians and therefore are
at higher risk; the risk is also higher among Latina
Americans, some Asian Americans, and Native Americans and
other indigenous populations);
Whereas these studies have identified the following as
major risk factors that Americans can modify, treat or
control by changing their lifestyle or seeking appropriate
medical treatment: high blood pressure, high blood
cholesterol, smoking tobacco products and exposure to tobacco
smoke, physical inactivity, obesity, and diabetes mellitus;
Whereas these studies have identified the following as
contributing risk factors that Americans can also take action
to modify, treat or control by changing their lifestyle or
seeking appropriate medical treatment: individual response to
stress, excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages, use of
certain illegal drugs, and hormone replacement therapy;
Whereas more than 72 million adult Americans have high
blood pressure;
Whereas more than 36.6 million Americans have cholesterol
levels of 240 mg/dL or higher, the level at which it becomes
a major risk factor;
Whereas an estimated 46 million Americans put themselves at
risk for heart disease every day by smoking cigarettes;
Whereas data released by the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention shows that more than 60 percent of American
adults do not get enough physical activity, and more than 25
percent are not physically active at all;
Whereas 66 percent of adult Americans are overweight or
obese;
Whereas 20 million adult Americans have diabetes and 65
percent of those so afflicted will die of some form of heart
disease;
Whereas the American Heart Association projects that in
2007 1.2 million Americans will have a first or recurrent
heart attack and 452,000 of these people will die as a
result;
Whereas in 2007 approximately 700,000 Americans will suffer
a new or recurrent stroke and 150,000 of these people will
die as a result;
Whereas advances in medical research have significantly
improved our capacity to fight heart disease by providing
greater knowledge about its causes, innovative diagnostic
tools to detect the disease, and new and improved treatments
that help people survive and recover from this disease;
Whereas the Congress by Joint Resolution approved on
December 30, 1963, (77 Stat. 843; 36 U.S.C. 101) has
requested that the President issue an annual proclamation
designating February as ``American Heart Month''; and
Whereas every year since 1964 the President has issued a
proclamation designating the month February as ``American
Heart Month'': Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That the Congress--
(1) supports the goals and ideals of American Heart Month;
(2) invites the chief executive officers of the States,
territories, and possessions of the United States to issue
proclamations designating American Heart Month and
recognizing the goals and ideals of American Heart Month;
(3) commends the efforts of States, territories and
possessions of the United States, localities, non-profit
organizations, businesses, and other entities, and the people
of the United States who support the goals and ideals of
American Heart Month;
(4) recognizes and reaffirms our Nation's commitment to
fighting heart disease by promoting awareness about its
causes, risks, and prevention and by promoting new education
programs, supporting research, and expanding access to
medical treatment;
(5) recognizes all Americans battling heart disease,
expresses gratitude to their family members and friends who
are a source of love

[[Page H1928]]

and encouragement to them as they combat this disease, and
salutes the health care professionals and medical researchers
who provide assistance to those so afflicted and continue to
work to find cures and improve treatments; and
(6) encourages each and every American to take to heart the
four simple healthy life, healthy heart goals identified by
the HealthierUS Initiative of the U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services: exercise regularly and maintain a healthy
weight; develop good eating habits; avoid tobacco products,
drugs and excessive alcohol; and have regular medical
checkups to take advantage of screenings that can detect
heart-disease related problems early.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
Jersey (Mr. Pallone) and the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Sullivan)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey.

General Leave

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and
include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from New Jersey?
There was no objection.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 52 supporting the
goals and ideals of American Heart Month. February is American Heart
Month, and each year since 1963 Congress has charged the President to
claim February American Heart Month.
The goal of American Heart Month is to raise funds, conduct research,
and promote education about heart disease and stroke.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart
disease is the leading cause of death in the United States and the
major cause of disability. The most common heart disease in the U.S. is
coronary heart disease, which often first appears as a heart attack.
Almost 1.2 million people in the U.S. will have a heart attack and
about 700,000 people die of heart disease annually.
Each of us should continue to take steps to prevent and control
factors that put us at greater risk. Prevention measures certainly help
to reduce the risks for heart disease and its effects. Additionally,
knowing the signs and symptoms of heart attack are crucial to the most
positive outcomes after having a heart attack. Recognizing and
responding quickly to symptoms and receiving appropriate care can limit
heart damage. People who have survived a heart attack can also work to
reduce their risk of another heart attack or a stroke in the future.
Research has shown a healthy diet and life style are the best weapons
you have to fight heart disease.
I would like to thank the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Millender-
McDonald) for her work on this issue. I certainly urge my colleagues to
support H. Con. Res. 52.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 52, a resolution
supporting the goals and ideals of American Heart Month. I commend Ms.
Millender-McDonald for her efforts in bringing this resolution to the
floor.
Beginning in 1964, the President has issued a proclamation every year
designating the month of February as American Heart Month. It is
important to recognize the need for greater heart health. Heart disease
is the leading cause of death in America. This year alone, over 1.2
million Americans are expected to experience a heart attack. American
Heart Month renews the need to recognize and respond to symptoms of
heart damage.
Great work is being done by the American Heart Association to reach
out into communities and help provide instructional programs on heart
disease. It is important to have policies in place that ensure access
to screening, referral, and counseling services for stroke and heart
disease risk factors.
I believe Congress should continue to support the goals of American
Heart Month. This resolution is important in that it continues to
encourage Americans to take a healthy approach to living and protecting
their hearts.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from
Illinois (Ms. Schakowsky).
Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding to me
on this important issue.
On December 30, 1963, Congress requested that the President issue an
annual proclamation designating February as American Heart Month. House
Concurrent Resolution 52, supporting the goals and ideals of American
Heart Month, reaffirms the Federal Government's commitment to fighting
heart disease, recognizes Americans struggling with this illness, and
encourages Americans to take preventive measures to protect themselves
from heart disease.

{time} 1700

I want to recognize the sponsor of this resolution, Representative
Juanita Millender-McDonald, and thank her for her leadership on this
and other critical health issues.
Over 79 million, or one in three, American adults have cardiovascular
disease, including high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, heart
failure, stroke and congenital cardiovascular defects.
The lifetime risk for cardiovascular disease for an individual aged
40 is two in three of men, and over one in two for women.
Cardiovascular disease was the underlying cause of death for well
over a third of all the 2.4 million deaths in the United States in
2004. Cardiovascular disease accounts for more deaths than any other
single cause of death in the United States. Nearly 2,400 Americans die
of cardiovascular disease each day, an average of one death each 36
seconds.
The estimated direct and indirect costs of cardiovascular disease in
2007 are $431.8 billion. Heart disease is a significant factor in
driving up medical costs in the United States. About two-thirds of
unexpected cardiac deaths occur without prior recognition of cardiac
disease.
This is an important point to underscore, and it highlights the need
for American Heart Month. Public education can help raise awareness,
encourage preventive measures, discourage unhealthy behaviors and
persuade more Americans to get regular medical exams. By doing so, we
will be able to reduce the incidences of heart disease.
We can lower those numbers that I have just mentioned, but we can
also improve and extend the lives of real people, our family members,
friends and neighbors. That is what American Heart Month is all about.
We know the risk factors that lead to heart disease: high blood
pressure, high blood cholesterol, tobacco use, physical inactivity,
unhealthy diet, obesity and diabetes.
Cigarette smoking results in a two- to threefold increased risk of
dying from coronary heart disease.
We also know the way to manage risk and prevent heart disease:
regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight; healthy eating
habits; avoidance of tobacco, drugs and excessive alcohol; getting
regular checkups to be screened for signs of heart disease risk.
American Heart Month is particularly important in getting the word
out to those who are disproportionately affected by heart disease and
who too often fail to receive the treatment they need. Women and
minorities may have atypical symptoms when suffering a heart attack or
angina, and if they are sent home undiagnosed, they are about twice as
likely to die from these symptoms as those who are admitted.
Heart disease is the number one killer of women in this country,
claiming over 349,000 American women each year. Raising awareness and
improving treatment and screening can save many lives.
Forty-two percent of women who have heart attacks die within 1 year,
compared with 24 percent of men. This may be because, on average, women
are older than men when they have a heart attack. It also may be
because heart disease is not typically diagnosed as or treated as
aggressively as that in men.
Cardiovascular disease, including heart disease, hypertension, and
stroke, is the number one killer of women in the United States. Experts
estimate that one in two will die of heart disease or stroke, compared
with one in 25 of women who will die of breast cancer.

[[Page H1929]]

Existing heart disease is undiagnosed in half of women who have a
first heart attack.
Management of chest pains differ by sex and race. Men are more likely
than women to receive definitive diagnoses of angina as opposed to
vague chest pain. Women and blacks typically receive fewer
cardiovascular medications than men and whites.
Lack of studies on women limits usefulness of research on coronary
heart disease. Although CHD causes more than 250,000 deaths in women
each year, much of the research on CHD in the last 20 years has either
excluded women or included very few women. As a result, many of the
tests and therapies used to treat women for CHD are based on studies
conducted predominantly in men and may not be as effective in women.
Again, I want to thank Representative Millender-McDonald for her
leadership, and I urge all of my colleagues to support H. Con. Res. 52.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) that the House suspend the
rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 52.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this question will
be postponed.

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