South Asian Heart Health Awareness and Research Act of 2020

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3131) to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for research and improvement of cardiovascular health among the South Asian population of the United States, and for other purposes, as amended.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 3131

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``South Asian Heart Health Awareness and Research Act of 2020''. SEC. 2. HEART HEALTH PROMOTION GRANTS.

Title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 241 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 317U (42 U.S.C. 247b-23) the following new section: ``SEC. 317V. HEART HEALTH PROMOTION GRANTS.

``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall make grants to States for the purpose of promoting awareness of the increasing prevalence of heart disease, including, where appropriate, its relationship to type 2 diabetes, in communities disproportionately affected by heart disease such as South Asian communities in the United States.

``(b) Use of Funds.--A State that receives a grant under subsection (a) shall use such grant funds--

``(1) to develop culturally appropriate materials on evidence-based topics such as nutrition education, optimal diet plans, and programs for regular exercise;

``(2) to support heart health promotion activities of community organizations that work with or serve communities disproportionately affected by heart disease, such as South Asian communities in the United States; or

``(3) to support conferences or workshops on research practices, methodology, and design to include more members of communities disproportionately affected by heart disease, such as South Asian communities in the United States, in scientific studies.

``(c) Annual Report to Congress.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of the South Asian Heart Health Awareness and Research Act of 2020, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on outreach efforts and data relating to heart disease in communities disproportionately affected by heart disease, such as South Asian communities in the United States.

``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--For purposes of carrying out this section, there is authorized to be appropriated $1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025.''. SEC. 3. HEART HEALTH RESEARCH.

Part B of title IV of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 284 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new section: ``SEC. 409K. HEART HEALTH RESEARCH.

``(a) In General.--The Secretary may--

``(1) conduct or support research and related activities regarding cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and other heart health-related ailments among at-risk populations, including South Asian communities in the United States; and

``(2) establish an Internet clearinghouse to catalog existing evidence-based heart health research and treatment options for communities disproportionately affected by heart disease, such as South Asian communities in the United States, to prevent, treat, or reverse heart disease and diabetes.

``(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--For purposes of carrying out this section, there is authorized to be appropriated $1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025.''.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. PALLONE. 3131.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, and tragically, the risk of heart disease death differs dramatically by race and ethnicity.

Overall, racial and ethnic minorities have an elevated risk of morbidity and mortality due to heart disease. Racial and ethnic minorities confront more barriers to heart health care than White Americans, including higher comorbidity rates, less culturally competent care, and fewer proactive heart health interventions.

This bill, the South Asian Heart Health Awareness and Research Act of 2020, directs the Department of Health and Human Services to build on current heart disease programs to improve further heart health awareness, education, training, and research for groups disproportionately affected by heart disease.

In November 2019, the American Heart Association and other medical groups issued updated cholesterol guidelines that, for the first time, urged doctors to consider ethnicity when determining a patient's cardiovascular risk and treatment options.

This bill builds upon the work of determined medical partners like the American Heart Association to provide more resources for States that wish to expand their heart health programs.

This bill would not be on the floor today without the determined effort of Congresswoman Jayapal, and I commend her for her leadership on this. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3131.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Washington (Ms. Jayapal), who is the sponsor of the bill.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. PALLONE. I urge support of this the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time, Madam Speaker.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source