III 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 560 

Designating February 2024 as ‘‘American Heart Month’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

FEBRUARY 13 (legislative day, FEBRUARY 12), 2024 

Mr. DURBIN (for himself and Mr. CRAPO) submitted the following resolution; 

which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Designating February 2024 as ‘‘American Heart Month’’. 

Whereas cardiovascular disease (referred to in this preamble 

as ‘‘CVD’’) affects men, women, and children of every 

age and race in the United States; 

Whereas CVD continues to be the leading cause of death in 

the United States, claiming the lives of nearly 695,000 

individuals in the United States in 2021, more than all 

forms of cancer; 

Whereas, from 2019–2020, deaths from heart disease in the 

United States increased by 4.1 percent, and stroke 

deaths increased over the same period by 4.9 percent; 

Whereas individuals in the United States have made great 

progress in reducing the death rate for CVD, but this 

progress has been more modest with respect to the death 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
2 

•SRES 560 ATS 

rate for CVD in women and historically marginalized 

communities of color; 

Whereas CVD results in tremendous health care costs and 

lost productivity, and, if not addressed, the United States 

alone will spend over $1,000,000,000,000 by 2035 on 

costs relating to CVD; 

Whereas, between 2018 and 2019, heart disease accounted 

for $240,000,000,000 in health care expenditures and 

lost productivity in the United States; 

Whereas, in 2020, sudden cardiac arrest accounted for over 

436,000 deaths in the United States; 

Whereas approximately every 40 seconds an individual in the 

United States will have a heart attack; 

Whereas heart disease and stroke are the leading causes of 

maternal death among women in the United States, accounting for more than 1 in 3 pregnancy-related deaths 

between 2011 and 2015; 

Whereas congenital heart defects are— 

(1) the most common types of birth defects in the 

United States; and 

(2) the leading killer of infants with birth defects; 

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

of CVD, including— 

(1) high blood pressure; 

(2) high blood cholesterol; 

(3) smoking tobacco products; 

(4) exposure to tobacco smoke; 

(5) physical inactivity; 

(6) obesity; and 

(7) diabetes mellitus; 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
3 

•SRES 560 ATS 

Whereas an individual can greatly reduce the risk of CVD 

through lifestyle modification coupled with medical treatment when necessary; 

Whereas greater awareness and early detection of risk factors 

for CVD can improve and save the lives of thousands of 

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 CVD as the leading killer of individuals in the United States; 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 February 2024 as ‘‘American 

3 Heart Month’’; 

4 (2) supports the goals and ideals of American 

5 Heart Month; 

6 (3) recognizes and reaffirms the commitment of 

7 the United States to fighting cardiovascular disease 

8 by— 

9 (A) promoting awareness about the causes, 

10 risks, and prevention of cardiovascular disease; 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
4 

•SRES 560 ATS 

1 (B) supporting research on cardiovascular 

2 disease; and 

3 (C) improving access to affordable, high4 quality, and innovative care to reduce long-term 

5 disability and mortality; 

6 (4) recognizes and supports efforts to address 

7 the long-term implications of the COVID–19 pan8 demic, including the influence of the COVID–19 

9 pandemic on cardiovascular health and mortality 

10 rates; 

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

12 and possessions of the United States, localities, non13 profit organizations, businesses, other entities, and 

14 the people of the United States who support Amer15 ican Heart Month; and 

16 (6) encourages every individual in the United 

17 States to learn about their risk for cardiovascular 

18 disease. 

Æ 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS