Heart Disease, Stroke Survivors Head to Capitol Hill; AHA Volunteers Urge Increased Effort Against Cardiovascular Diseases

4/27/2004

From: Eric Bolton, Eric.Bolton@heart.org or Kelly Kennai, Kelly.Kennai@heart.org or Charles Hodges, Charles.Hodges@heart.org all of American Heart Association, 202-785-7900

WASHINGTON, April 27 -- The fight against the nation's leading killer takes center stage on Capitol Hill today as close to 500 heart disease and stroke advocates from across the nation ask Congress to help reduce disability and death from the nation's no. 1 cause of death -- cardiovascular disease.

The citizen advocates are here as part of the American Heart Association's annual Congressional Heart and Stroke Lobby Day. Among the advocates are ESPN Anchor/Reporter Karl Ravech.

"Heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases kill more Americans than the next seven leading causes of death combined. They also cost more than any other disease an estimated $368.4 billion this year alone," said Augustus O. Grant, M.D., president of the American Heart Association. "All Americans regardless of age, ethnicity or gender are touched by these diseases in one way or another. We must take action now if we are going to reduce the toll they take on our nation.

The association's advocates are urging Congress to increase funding for heart disease and stroke research and prevention, help improve stroke treatment and awareness, and support initiatives to curb obesity. Specific asks include:

-- An appropriation for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) of $30.6 billion, with $2.5 billion going to NIH heart research and $410 million going to NIH stroke research. Despite historic funding increases over the past few years, significant increases are still needed in order to maintain the momentum built over the years.

-- An appropriation of $80 million to go to the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Program. This would allow CDC to expand, intensify, and coordinate heart disease and stroke prevention activities, including the creation of a separate Heart Disease and Stroke Division like those devoted to cancer and diabetes to improve prevention efforts.

-- Co-sponsorship of the Senate version of the Stroke Treatment and Ongoing Prevention Act (STOP Stroke Act). This bill passed the Senate and had overwhelming support in the House during the 107th Congress. This year, it has passed through the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and will likely be brought to the House floor in the near future. The Senate version of the bill has been reintroduced and awaits action in the Health, Energy, Labor and Pensions Committee.

-- Support for policies that will help reduce obesity including the Safe Routes to School provision in the House transportation reauthorization bill, Senate action on the reauthorization of the Childhood Nutrition Act, and House action on the Improved Nutrition and Physical Activity Act.

"The actions members of Congress take today could be the cures of tomorrow," said Grant. "We hope lawmakers consider these very important issues and make them a top priority."