Presidential Documents

7599 

Federal Register 

Vol. 89, No. 24 

Monday, February 5, 2024 

Title 3— 

The President 

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 


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7600 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 24 / Monday, February 5, 2024 / Presidential Documents 

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 fortyeighth. 

[FR Doc. 2024–02343 

Filed 2–2–24; 8:45 am] 

Billing code 3395–F4–P 


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