On National Wear Red Day, Murkowski, Hirono Lead Effort to Recognize American Heart Month
Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) led a bipartisan resolution designating February 2017 as American Heart Month, and Feb. 3, 2017 specifically as National Wear Red Day. The resolution (attached) is aimed to ensure support and commitment to fight cardiovascular diseases and stroke by promoting education and awareness regarding the causes, risks, scientific research, prevention, and access to treatment and care. The resolution calls special attention to how cardiovascular disease impacts minority women and calls particular attention to the serious health risks it presents among Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and other indigenous populations.
“Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of woman in the United States. I passionately believe that we must do all we can to enable our women, families, and healthcare providers with the tools and know how to confront heart disease head on,” said Senator Murkowski. “There is still so much we have to learn about this disease, and how it affects women. I will continue to work hard to support the efforts by the American Heart Association and others to raise awareness of heart disease and stroke in women. ”
“Heart disease kills three out of every ten people in Hawaii and one in three nationwide, including a significant number of women and minorities,” said Senator Hirono. “The bipartisan support of this resolution is a testament to the commitment by our nation’s lawmakers to raise awareness about the prevalence and severity of cardiovascular disease and the importance of research, prevention, and treatment."
(Senators Hirono and Murkowski led female Senators in observing National Wear Red Day, which brings attention to the importance of women’s heart health.)
“We are pleased that so many members of Congress joined together to co-sponsor this important resolution. Our tremendous thanks to Senators Hirono and Murkowski, who were integral in its reintroduction,” said American Heart Association CEO Nancy Brown. “Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the no. 1 and most costly killer of Americans. It causes 1 in 3 deaths among women each year – more than all cancers combined. This resolution brings much-needed awareness to these perils of CVD and helps us remind all Americans to focus on their heart health not only during February, but every day of their lives."
The resolution is also co-sponsored by Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Maggie Hassan (D-NH.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.).
