III 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 496 

Designating September 2023 as ‘‘National Cholesterol Education Month’’ 

and September 30, 2023, as LDL–C Awareness Day. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

DECEMBER 13, 2023 

Mrs. HYDE-SMITH (for herself, Mr. PETERS, and Mrs. BLACKBURN) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 

the Judiciary 

FEBRUARY 27, 2024 

Committee discharged; considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Designating September 2023 as ‘‘National Cholesterol Education Month’’ and September 30, 2023, as LDL–C 

Awareness Day. 

Whereas cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death 

for men and women; 

Whereas projected rates of cardiovascular disease are expected to increase significantly in the United States by 

2060; 

Whereas, compared to urban areas, rural areas in the United 

States have higher death rates for cardiovascular disease 

and stroke, and a 40 percent higher prevalence of cardiovascular disease; 


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SRES 496 ATS 

Whereas risk factors contributing to cardiovascular disease 

and poor health outcomes include elevated low density 

lipoprotein cholesterol (referred to in this preamble as 

‘‘LDL–C’’), high levels of lipoprotein(a) cholesterol, hypertension, obesity, low awareness of personal risk factors, genetics, geographic location, and inequitable access 

to care; 

Whereas lipoprotein(a) cholesterol is predominantly genetically inherited and can build up in the walls of blood vessels creating cholesterol deposits, or plaques, and lead to 

atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease; 

Whereas LDL–C is a modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease and having lower LDL–C is associated 

with a reduced risk of heart attack and stroke; 

Whereas more than 25.5 percent of adults in the United 

States have high LDL–C; 

Whereas more than 200 studies with more than 2,000,000 

patients have broadly established that elevated LDL–C 

unequivocally causes atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease; 

Whereas atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is the build-up 

of cholesterol plaque within the walls of arteries and includes acute coronary syndrome, peripheral arterial disease, and events such as heart attacks and strokes; 

Whereas the resources needed to bend the curve on cardiovascular disease exist, yet 71 percent of 

hypercholesterolemia patients at high risk of a cardiovascular event never achieve recommended LDL–C treatment guideline thresholds; 

Whereas only 33 percent of individuals with atherosclerotic 

cardiovascular disease who are taking statins, a guideline 


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SRES 496 ATS 

recommended lipid lowering therapy, actually achieve 

LDL–C goals; 

Whereas, although clinical guidelines recommend that a patient hospitalized for heart attack receive an LDL–C test 

in the 90 days following discharge from a hospital, only 

27 percent of patients receive such test; 

Whereas African-American adults are less likely to receive an 

LDL–C test in the 90 days following discharge from a 

hospital, despite having a higher prevalence of cardiovascular disease; 

Whereas significant gaps in care lead to subsequent cardiovascular events; 

Whereas the Million Hearts program seeks to improve access 

to and quality of care to reduce heart disease, stroke, and 

death; and 

Whereas September is recognized as National Cholesterol 

Education Month to raise awareness of cardiovascular 

disease and the importance of knowing one’s LDL–C 

number: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) encourages all individuals in the United 

3 States to know their low density lipoprotein choles4 terol (referred to in this resolution as ‘‘LDL–C’’) 

5 number; 

6 (2) designates September 2023, as ‘‘National 

7 Cholesterol Education Month’’; 

8 (3) designates September 30, 2023, as ‘‘LDL– 

9 C Awareness Day’’; and 


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SRES 496 ATS 

1 (4) recognizes the urgent need for screening 

2 and treating of elevated LDL–C to reduce the risk 

3 of cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular events, 

4 including heart attacks and strokes. 

Æ 


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