III 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 513 

Designating February 2020 as ‘‘American Heart Month’’ and February 7, 

2020, as ‘‘National Wear Red Day’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

FEBRUARY 27, 2020 

Ms. SINEMA (for herself, Mrs. FISCHER, Ms. HIRONO, Ms. BALDWIN, Mrs. 

BLACKBURN, Ms. CANTWELL, Ms. ERNST, Mrs. CAPITO, Mrs. HYDESMITH, Ms. KLOBUCHAR, Ms. MCSALLY, Ms. ROSEN, Mrs. SHAHEEN, 

and Ms. STABENOW) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Designating February 2020 as ‘‘American Heart Month’’ 

and February 7, 2020, as ‘‘National Wear Red Day’’. 

Whereas cardiovascular disease affects men, women, and children of every age and race in the United States; 

Whereas, between 2003 and 2013, the death rate from cardiovascular disease fell nearly 30 percent, but cardiovascular disease continues to be the leading cause of 

death in the United States, taking the lives of approximately 800,000 individuals in the United States each 

year and accounting for 1 in 3 deaths across the country; 

Whereas congenital heart defects are the— 

(1) most common birth defect in the United States; 

and 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
2 

•SRES 513 ATS 

(2) leading killer of infants with birth defects; 

Whereas, each year, an estimated 800,000 individuals in the 

United States have a heart attack, of whom an estimated 

115,000 die; 

Whereas, in 2015, cardiovascular disease accounted for approximately $555,000,000,000 in health care expenditures and lost productivity; 

Whereas it is estimated that cardiovascular disease will account for approximately $1,093,900,000,000 in health 

care expenditures and lost productivity annually by 2035; 

Whereas individuals in the United States have made great 

progress in reducing the death rate for cardiovascular 

disease, but this progress has been more modest with respect to the death rate for cardiovascular disease in 

women and minorities; 

Whereas many people do not recognize that cardiovascular 

disease is the leading killer of women in the United 

States, taking the lives of over 400,000 women in 2017; 

Whereas over 1⁄2 of all African-American adults have some 

form of cardiovascular disease, including 57.1 percent of 

African-American women and 60.1 percent of AfricanAmerican men; 

Whereas Alaska Natives and American Indians are more likely to die from cardiovascular disease than individuals 

from other ethnic groups; 

Whereas Native Hawaiians have higher mortality rates and 

die at a younger average age from cardiovascular disease 

than other ethnic groups in Hawaii; 

Whereas many minority women, including African-American, 

Hispanic, Asian-American, and Native American women 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
3 

•SRES 513 ATS 

and women from indigenous populations, have a greater 

prevalence of risk factors or are at a higher risk of death 

from heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases, but are less likely to know of the risk; 

Whereas women constitute about 20 percent of enrolled patients in cardiovascular disease clinical trials; 

Whereas, due to the differences in cardiovascular disease between men and women, more research and data on the 

effects of cardiovascular disease treatments for women is 

vital; 

Whereas veterans have higher rates of cardiovascular disease 

than nonveterans; 

Whereas female veterans are less likely than male veterans to 

be included in studies on the effects of cardiovascular disease on veterans; 

Whereas female veterans are less likely than male veterans to 

receive adequate treatment for cardiovascular disease; 

Whereas extensive clinical and statistical studies have identified major and contributing factors that increase the risk 

of cardiovascular disease, including— 

(1) high blood pressure; 

(2) high blood cholesterol; 

(3) using tobacco products; 

(4) exposure to tobacco smoke; 

(5) physical inactivity; 

(6) obesity; and 

(7) diabetes mellitus; 

Whereas an individual can greatly reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease through lifestyle modification coupled 

with medical treatment when necessary; 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
4 

•SRES 513 ATS 

Whereas greater awareness and early detection of risk factors 

for cardiovascular disease can improve and save the lives 

of many individuals in the United States each year; 

Whereas, under section 101(1) of title 36, United States 

Code, the President is requested to issue an annual proclamation designating February as American Heart 

Month; 

Whereas the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of 

the National Institutes of Health, the American Heart 

Association, and many other organizations celebrate National Wear Red Day during February by ‘‘going red’’ to 

increase awareness about cardiovascular disease as the 

leading killer of women; and 

Whereas, every year since 1964, the President has issued a 

proclamation designating the month of February as 

American Heart Month: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) designates— 

3 (A) February 2020 as ‘‘American Heart 

4 Month’’; and 

5 (B) February 7, 2020, as ‘‘National Wear 

6 Red Day’’; 

7 (2) supports the goals and ideals of American 

8 Heart Month and National Wear Red Day; 

9 (3) recognizes and reaffirms the commitment of 

10 the United States to— 

11 (A) promoting awareness about the causes, 

12 risks, and prevention of cardiovascular disease; 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
5 

•SRES 513 ATS 

1 (B) supporting research on cardiovascular 

2 disease; and 

3 (C) expanding access to medical treatment 

4 for cardiovascular disease; 

5 (4) commends the efforts of States, territories, 

6 and possessions of the United States, localities, non7 profit organizations, businesses, and other entities, 

8 and the people of the United States who support 

9 American Heart Month and National Wear Red 

10 Day; and 

11 (5) encourages every individual in the United 

12 States to learn about his or her risk for cardio13 vascular disease. 

Æ 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS