III 

113TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 454 

Recognizing that cardiovascular disease continues to be an overwhelming 

threat to women’s health and the importance of providing basic, preventive heart screenings to women wherever they seek primary care. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MAY 21, 2014 

Ms. MURKOWSKI (for herself, Ms. MIKULSKI, Ms. WARREN, and Ms. COLLINS) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and 

agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing that cardiovascular disease continues to be an 

overwhelming threat to women’s health and the importance of providing basic, preventive heart screenings to 

women wherever they seek primary care. 

Whereas heart disease remains the leading cause of death for 

women in the United States, causing 1 in 4 female 

deaths and more female deaths than all forms of cancer 

combined; 

Whereas since 1984, the number of women who have died 

from heart disease exceeds the number of men who have 

died from heart disease; 

Whereas the rate of cardiovascular death is increasing by 1 

percent each year among women ages 35 to 44; 


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•SRES 454 ATS 

Whereas heart disease claims the lives of nearly 422,000 

women each year; 

Whereas almost half of African American women have some 

form of cardiovascular disease, and African American 

women are more likely to die from heart disease than 

white women; 

Whereas heart disease and stroke account for 

$312,600,000,000 in health care expenditures and lost 

productivity annually; 

Whereas only 54 percent of women recognize that heart disease is the leading cause of death for women, and almost 

2⁄3 of women who unexpectedly die of heart disease have 

no previous symptoms of disease; 

Whereas many women, especially younger women, may not be 

aware of their risk for heart disease because they have 

never gotten a basic, preventive heart screening and have 

no symptoms; 

Whereas studies show that nearly 1 in 5 women rely solely 

on their obstetrician and gynecologist (‘‘OB/GYN’’) for 

primary care, yet only 35 percent of women recall having 

even discussed heart disease with their OB/GYN; 

Whereas early identification of cardiovascular disease risk 

factors such as high blood pressure, smoking, excessive 

weight and obesity, high cholesterol, and diabetes allows 

for more effective intervention and treatment, and can 

dramatically lower a woman’s overall risk of heart disease 

and heart attack; 

Whereas the burden of women’s heart disease can be reduced 

in the United States by encouraging primary care providers to offer women basic, preventative heart disease 

screenings; 


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•SRES 454 ATS 

Whereas experts recommend and encourage that a basic, preventive heart screening be a routine part of a woman’s 

visit to a primary care practitioner; and 

Whereas once women understand their risk, they still need 

follow-up information, support, and incentives to maintain cardiovascular health and make the most informed 

decisions: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) recognizes that, despite improved education 

3 and awareness, heart disease remains the number 1 

4 killer of women in the United States; 

5 (2) recognizes the importance of making basic, 

6 preventive cardiovascular screening available for 

7 women as recommended, so that all women can 

8 know the risks they face and what can be done to 

9 reduce them; 

10 (3) recognizes that basic, preventive heart dis11 ease screenings are recommended to be a routine 

12 part of women’s health care; and 

13 (4) commits to improving the heart health of all 

14 women, tearing down the barriers that prevent 

15 women from getting screened for heart disease, en16 suring women are provided with personalized life17 style modification recommendations and support, 

18 and ensuring every woman has a healthy heart. 

Æ 


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