Cardiovascular Advances in Research and Opportunities Legacy Act

Floor Speech

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1193, the Cardiovascular Advances and Opportunities Legacy Act, or the CAROL Act, introduced by my good friend and fellow Kentuckian, Representative Andy Barr.

Mr. Speaker, Congress is like a family, and we certainly laugh together and we certainly argue with each other, but there are times we cry with each other. I will never forget the phone call that I received from Robert Aderholt telling me that Carol Barr, who was a wonderful woman, wonderful wife, and wonderful mother, had passed away.

Our friend and colleague, Representative Andy Barr, has introduced this bill to honor his wife, who passed away from mitral valve prolapse.

Heart disease continues to be the leading cause of death for most demographic groups in the United States. Over 600,000 Americans die from heart disease each year. This is equal to one person every 36 seconds.

We know that taking early action is critical to surviving a heart condition. People need to know the warning signs and symptoms. Understanding the gaps in education and information sharing will help the healthcare system better detect these warning signs.

This bill authorizes grants administered by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute to support research on valvular heart disease and convenes subject matter experts to identify research opportunities to develop more informed treatment guidelines for patients with valvular heart disease.

It also instructs the CDC to increase public awareness about the symptoms associated with valvular heart disease and effective strategies for preventing sudden cardiac arrest.

This bill will provide timely investments to adequately inform others about valvular heart disease and ultimately save lives.

Mr. Speaker, as I said, every 36 seconds, one person dies from heart disease. It is a life; it is a wife; it is a mother; it is Carol Barr. That is who we are here today to honor. We should use the horrible tragedy that the Barrs have gone through to prevent other families from going through the same thing.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I almost always enjoy when the Republican leader comes to Kentucky, whether it is going to see Corvettes or the Abraham Lincoln birthplace. Unfortunately, we got to spend time together honoring Carol when we attended her funeral in Lexington.

I know he was a dear friend of Carol's. He is not just our Republican leader, but he was a dear friend of hers as well.

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Mr. GUTHRIE. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Scalise), the Republican whip.

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Mr. GUTHRIE. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Barr), my good friend.

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Mr. GUTHRIE. Madam Speaker, may I inquire how much time I have remaining?

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Mr. GUTHRIE. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Huizenga), another dear friend of my colleague from Kentucky and his wife, Carol.

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Mr. GUTHRIE. Madam Speaker, I yield the gentleman an additional 1 minute.

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Mr. GUTHRIE. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Wenstrup), a good friend of Andy's, and I know he has taken Andy under his wing over the last year. It is hard to believe it has been over a year.

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Mr. GUTHRIE. Madam Speaker, again, this is a great legacy for a great woman and her children. Every time I see them, we all tear up but we know that they are carrying on her legacy. I know that her husband is here today moving forward with her legacy.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the passage of the bill, and I thank the gentleman for yielding to the gentlewoman from Washington.

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