IV

105TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. CON. RES. 274

Recognizing the 50th anniversary of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood

Institute, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

MAY 7, 1998

Mr. YOUNG of Florida (for himself, Mr. STOKES, Mr. SPENCE, Mr. GEKAS,

Mr. COBURN, Mr. MCDADE, Mr. SHAW, Mr. CALLAHAN, Mr. ENSIGN,

Mr. GOODE, Mrs. MINK of Hawaii, Mr. PASTOR, Mr. RAHALL, Mr.

HASTINGS of Florida, Mr. DOOLEY of California, Ms. EDDIE BERNICE

JOHNSON of Texas, Mr. MARTINEZ, Mr. PETERSON of Pennsylvania, Ms.

SLAUGHTER, Ms. WATERS, Mr. HOYER, Mr. MCDERMOTT, and Ms.

PELOSI) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Recognizing the 50th anniversary of the National Heart,

Lung, and Blood Institute, and for other purposes.

Whereas in 1948 the Congress, by its enactment of the National Heart Act and creation of the National Heart Institute, recognized the urgent need to establish a national

program of research and demonstration projects relating

to the causes, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases of the heart and circulation;

Whereas the Congress has consistently and generously supported the purposes of the National Heart Act;
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Whereas, since the creation of the National Heart Institute,

the Congress changed the name of the Institute to the

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and expanded

and clarified the Institute’s role in advancing human understanding or awareness of diseases of the heart and

blood vessels, diseases of the lungs, diseases of the blood,

the use of blood and blood products, the management of

blood resources, and sleep disorders through research, research training, demonstration projects, and public education activities;

Whereas June of 1998 marks the 50th anniversary of the

creation of the National Heart Institute which was established to lead a national effort to prevent, diagnose, and

treat heart diseases;

Whereas research supported by the National Heart, Lung,

and Blood Institute has led to the identification of risk

factors for coronary heart disease such as high cholesterol level, high blood pressure, obesity, physical inactivity, and cigarette smoking;

Whereas the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute has

conducted and supported studies that resulted in lifesaving procedures for heart disease patients, including openheart surgery, balloon angioplasty, heart transplants, and

insertion of pacemakers and other devices to improve

heart function;

Whereas patients with asthma, cystic fibrosis, and other lung

diseases are receiving better treatment with an improved

quality of life because of research supported by programs

of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute;

Whereas the work of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood

Institute has provided significant bases for progress in
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the treatment of inherited blood diseases such as sickle

cell anemia and hemophilia, and in gene therapy research

which suggests the possibility of cures for such diseases;

Whereas the work of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood

Institute has provided significant bases for advances in

molecular genetics, gene therapy, and other new technologies, which offer opportunity and promise of further

advances against such devastating diseases as coronary

heart disease, asthma, chronic obstructive lung disease,

and cystic fibrosis;

Whereas the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s national education programs have significantly raised public

awareness about the dangers of elevated cholesterol levels

and high blood pressure, the importance of early response

to heart attack symptoms, and asthma prevention and

treatment;

Whereas the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s efforts to promote research and education have contributed

to a dramatic decline over the past 50 years in death

rates from coronary heart disease and stroke;

Whereas researchers, professional societies, voluntary and

public health organizations, and patient groups have all

contributed to the National Heart Act’s goals of advancing research and increasing public awareness;

Whereas the Congress intends that the National Heart,

Lung, and Blood Institute continue its contribution to

public awareness by disseminating its research findings

to health professionals and the public; and

Whereas the Congress intends that the National Heart,

Lung, and Blood Institute continue to aggressively pursue efforts to improve the health of the people of the
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United States by conducting and supporting research and

demonstration projects on the causes, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases of the heart and blood

vessels, diseases of the lungs, and diseases of the blood

while also conducting or supporting research and demonstration projects on the use of blood and blood products, the management of blood resources, and sleep disorders: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate

2 concurring), That the Congress—

3 (1) recognizes the historic significance of the

4 50th anniversary of the enactment of the National

5 Heart Act and the creation of the institute that be6 came the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Insti7 tute;

8 (2) recognizes heart, lung, and blood research9 ers, professional societies, voluntary and public

10 health organizations, and patient groups for their

11 active participation in the activities of, or promoted

12 by, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute,

13 and for their many, varied contributions toward the

14 achievement of the goals of the National Heart Act

15 and subsequent related Acts; and

16 (3) reaffirms its support of the National Heart

17 Act and subsequent related Acts and their primary

18 goal of establishing and implementing a national ef-
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1 fort to prevent, diagnose, and treat diseases of the

2 heart and blood vessels, lungs, and blood.

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