Recognizing the rise of cardiovascular disease as the world's leading cause of preventable death and disability and as the global public health crisis of our generation and supporting the recognition of February 2019 as "American Heart Month".

IV 116TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. RES. 167 Recognizing the rise of cardiovascular disease as the world’s leading cause of preventable death and disability and as the global public health crisis of our generation and supporting the recognition of February 2019 as ‘‘American Heart Month’’. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FEBRUARY 28, 2019 Mr. SMITH of New Jersey (for himself and Mrs. BEATTY) submitted the fol- lowing resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Af- fairs, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the com- mittee concerned RESOLUTION Recognizing the rise of cardiovascular disease as the world’s leading cause of preventable death and disability and as the global public health crisis of our generation and supporting the recognition of February 2019 as ‘‘Amer- ican Heart Month’’. Whereas the World Health Organization estimates that in 2016, 17.9 million people died from cardiovascular dis- eases (CVDs) globally; Whereas, of these deaths, 85 percent were due to heart at- tacks and strokes and over three-quarters of CVD deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries; VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:37 Feb 28, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR167.IH HR167 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 2 •HRES 167 IH Whereas CVDs result in tremendous health care costs and lost productivity and, if not addressed, the United States alone will spend over 1 trillion dollars by 2035 on costs relating to CVD; Whereas the heavy burden of death and disability from CVDs can be decreased through changes in behavior linked to major risk factors, including reduced tobacco use and salt consumption and improvements in access to medical treatment and services; Whereas essential quality-assured medicines and technologies are critical components to address the global burden of CVDs; and Whereas United States leadership and support has strength- ened surveillance, enhanced workforce capacity, and pro- vided valuable technical exchanges in the area of CVD: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 1 (1) supports recognition of American Heart 2 Month to bring awareness to the cardiovascular dis- 3 ease (CVD) public health crisis in the United States 4 and abroad; 5 (2) affirms that the key to overcoming CVDs is 6 prevention and early detection and treatment to re- 7 duce long-term disability and mortality; 8 (3) urges the deployment of United States tech- 9 nical expertise on CVDs in support of developing ca- 10 pacities and strengthening of the health care sys- 11 tems of other countries; 12 VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:37 Feb 28, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HR167.IH HR167 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 3 •HRES 167 IH (4) values the quality of life for CVD patients 1 around the world and their reintegration to society; 2 and 3 (5) calls on the Department of State, the 4 United States Agency for International Develop- 5 ment, and the Centers for Disease Control and Pre- 6 vention, to— 7 (A) comprehensively examine the impact of 8 CVDs on health and development in United 9 States priority assistance countries; and 10 (B) develop a coordinated strategy that im- 11 proves the effectiveness and impact of United 12 States-financed global health programming by 13 integrating CVD into existing programs. 14 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:37 Feb 28, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\HR167.IH HR167 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS