HIRONO LEADS BIPARTSIAN GROUP OF SENATORS IN RAISING AWARENESS OF HEART HEALTH

Washington, D.C.– This week, Senator Mazie K. Hirono led a bipartisan group of 17 Senators in introducing and passing a resolution to recognize the month of February as American Heart Month and Friday February 6, 2015 as National Wear Red Day.  

“In Hawaii and across the country, heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women. For women, the impact of heart disease is significant and more needs to be done to study heart disease in women and minorities,” said Senator Hirono. “By coming together with many of the women Senators on both sides of the aisle to recognize American Heart Month, we will bring awareness to this important issue and encourage all Americans to seek critical preventative screenings and treatment.”

“Many thanks to Sen. Hirono for her leadership on this effort. This new resolution celebrating American Heart Month will bring more awareness to the no. 1 killer of women, and assist us with our mission to protect the public from heart disease,” said Elliott Antman, M.D., president of the American Heart Association. “We applaud the Senate for the unanimous passage of this legislation.” 

The bipartisan resolution was cosponsored by Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Durbin (D-IL), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Susan Collins (R-ME), Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Patty Murray (D-WA), Deb Fischer (R-NE), and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN).

Last year, Senator Hirono joined her fellow women Senators to call on the Department of Health and Human Services and Centers for Disease Control to improve the representation of women in heart disease research and testing. More women than men have died from heart disease but current treatments are based on research done on men.

Click here to read the full text of the resolution designating February as American Heart Month.