Hirono Leads Effort To Raise Awareness Of Heart Disease

Senator Mazie K. Hirono led a bipartisan coalition of 17 senators to introduce a resolution to designate February 2016 as American Heart Month, and February 5, 2016 as National Wear Red Day.

“Heart disease kills three out of every ten people in Hawaii and one in seven nationwide, including a significant number of women and minorities,” said Senator Hirono. “It is through preventative treatment and research that we will ensure that fewer families are impacted by heart disease, and with the support of my colleagues, this effort will bring to light the importance of promoting heart health.”

“Our sincere thanks to Sen. Hirono for putting American Heart Month front and center before the nation’s lawmakers,” said Mark Creager, M.D., president of the American Heart Association.  “We commend the senator and the resolution's cosponsors for their ongoing dedication and commitment to the fight against heart disease, the no. 1 killer of women, and we encourage the Senate to unanimously approve this important legislation.”

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

Click here to read the full resolution, which emphasizes that heart disease affects individuals of every age and supports research and advocacy to fight heart disease. The resolution also recognizes February 5, 2016 as National Wear Red Day. Since 2003, National Wear Red Day has brought attention to the importance of women’s heart health.

Senator Hirono and her staff raise awareness of heart disease’s impact on women on National Wear Red Day