Designating February 2024 as American Heart Month.

Designating February 2024 as American Heart Month Whereas cardiovascular disease (referred to in this preamble as CVD 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 20192020, 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 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; 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 Whereas, every year since 1964, the President has issued a proclamation designating the month of February as American Heart Month That the Senate (1) designates February 2024 as American Heart Month (2) supports the goals and ideals of American Heart Month; (3) recognizes and reaffirms the commitment of the United States to fighting cardiovascular disease by (A) promoting awareness about the causes, risks, and prevention of cardiovascular disease; (B) supporting research on cardiovascular disease; and (C) improving access to affordable, high-quality, and innovative care to reduce long-term disability and mortality; (4) recognizes and supports efforts to address the long-term implications of the COVID19 pandemic, including the influence of the COVID19 pandemic on cardiovascular health and mortality rates; (5) commends the efforts of States, territories, and possessions of the United States, localities, nonprofit organizations, businesses, other entities, and the people of the United States who support American Heart Month; and (6) encourages every individual in the United States to learn about their risk for cardiovascular disease.

Summary: This resolution designates February 2024 as American Heart Month.