American Heart Association: Go Red for Women

Floor Speech

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Mrs. BEATTY. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women campaign.

The Go Red for Women campaign is a critical public awareness platform that the American Heart Association uses to help promote heart-healthy lifestyles. More than 627,000 women's lives have been saved from heart disease since the Go Red for Women campaign was created in 2004. We have made tremendous progress, Mr. Speaker, in the fight against cardiovascular disease, but we still have a long way to go.

Heart disease is the number one killer of women and is more deadly than all forms of cancer combined. Heart disease causes one in three women's death each year, killing approximately 1 woman every minute. Ninety percent of women have one or more risk factors for developing heart disease. Since 1984, more women than men have died from heart disease.

Heart disease is, unfortunately, a silent killer. According to the American Heart Association, nearly half of all women are not aware that heart disease is the leading cause of death for women.

For African American women, the risk of heart disease is especially great. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for African American women. Of African American women 20 years of age and older, 46.9 percent have cardiovascular disease; yet only 43 percent of African American women know that heart disease is their greatest health risk. In fact, I did not realize that I was at risk for stroke.

In 1999, I suffered a cerebral brain stem stroke. Because of my personal experience, I decided to be part of the solution. As this epidemic continues, I decided to not sit on the sidelines.

In 2000, I was elected to serve on the National American Heart Association Board of Directors. I was the only nonphysician or nonmedical professional on the board at that time. As a board member, I served as a leader, guiding the American Heart Association's mission, cultural sensitivities, and national efforts.

Here in Congress, my advocacy continues. As a member of the Congressional Heart and Stroke Coalition, my colleagues and I work to raise awareness about the prevalence and severity of cardiovascular disease.

Last Congress, I introduced two pieces of legislation that raise awareness for stroke and other cardiovascular diseases. One, the Return to Work Awareness Act, would assist survivors of stroke and other debilitating health occurrences in returning to work. Both pieces of legislation had the support of the American Heart Association and the National Stroke Association.

I will reintroduce, Mr. Speaker, these important pieces of legislation this month during American Heart Month. I encourage all my colleagues, Democrats and Republicans, to join me as an original sponsor.

Mr. Speaker, you will notice that many of our colleagues today will be wearing the red American Heart Association pin. By wearing this pin, we help raise the awareness of cardiovascular disease in women and provide an important reminder that it is never too early to take action to protect our health.

This month, American Heart Month, let us recommit ourselves to improving heart-healthy lifestyles and to continue to fight against this deadly disease for ourselves and our families.

Lastly, Mr. Speaker, I want to recognize all the survivors of heart disease and those who are battling heart disease. I salute their family members and friends who are their source of love and encouragement to them as they fight this disease, as well as my friend, American Heart Association CEO Nancy Brown, and all the healthcare professionals and medical researchers who are working to find cures to improve treatments.

Please join us. Sign onto my bill and support a healthy lifestyle.

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