Supporting the goals and ideals of American Heart Month and National Wear Red Day.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 972) supporting the goals and ideals of American Heart Month and National Wear Red Day.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in support of H. Res. 972 which I am proud to have introduced with Congresswomen Fallin, Schakowsky, McMorris Rodgers, Christensen, and Cubin. This diverse group of lead sponsors is testament to the importance of raising greater awareness about heart disease, and especially heart disease in women.

The resolution recognizes both Heart Month and National Wear Red Day, both of which occur in February. Heart Month was first designated 45 years ago and has served as a launching pad to spur advocates into action around the country.

In my hometown of Santa Barbara, there will be a Go Red for Women luncheon in the coming weeks. This event provides opportunities for women to learn more about heart health for themselves and also for the role they often play as the health decisionmaker in their families.

The importance of community events like Go Red for Women lunches cannot be overstated. Heart disease is the number one killer of both women and men. But now, in fact, more women than men die of heart disease each year. Unfortunately, there is still an existing knowledge gap both in terms of public awareness and professional awareness.

Despite the fact that almost 460,000 American women die of heart disease every year, women are still grossly underrepresented in clinical trials, as one example. The numbers are even worse for minority women who are at an even greater risk for developing heart disease and who have many more barriers to accessing care.

So today, as we pass this resolution to recognize the importance of Heart Month and Wear Red Day, let us use this opportunity to discuss the real changes we can make to improve women's heart health.

My colleague, Barbara Cubin, and I have introduced H.R. 1014 the HEART for Women Act. This act takes crucial steps to address women's heart health. It ensures that research is stratified by gender. In other words, that we recognize that women need to have research

that will take their needs into consideration, provides for an educational campaign for health professionals, and expands the very successful WISEWOMAN program that conducts cardiovascular screening for low-income women that has been, in the pilot phase, proven very successful in various parts of the country.

We had a successful hearing in the Health Subcommittee, and I would like to thank the Energy and Commerce Committee for working hard to move this legislation along in, I hope, the very near future.

Finally, I would like to thank the Speaker for suggesting that we encourage everyone to wear red tomorrow in order that we be even more visible to all of our colleagues and others on the Hill to continue this very important dialogue.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve my time.

Mr. Speaker, I want to commend our colleagues who have spoken to this important topic, and particularly my good friend and colleague from North Carolina, Mrs. Myrick, who is symbolizing in her attire what we will all be doing tomorrow, which is not only Valentine's Day but Wear Red Day during Heart Month, to underscore the need for all of us to pay attention to women and heart disease in this month of February.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlelady, my friend from California, for all of the hard work she has put into this issue for the last several years, not just this year. It has been a real passion with her for a long time, and I thank her for that.

I rise in support of this important resolution because it does raise awareness about heart disease and the effect on women, which doesn't get talked about as much as heart disease in men.

As a breast cancer survivor, I spend a lot of time raising awareness about breast cancer and the importance of preventive screening and effective treatments. Those are vital battles, and as a country we have made great strides towards earlier detection of cancer and less invasive treatments.

But when we are reminded that heart disease is the leading cause of death for American women, it is a sobering thought. I remember being surprised to learn that the physical symptoms of heart attacks in women are often different than they are in men. Women are less likely to feel typical chest pains during the attacks. Women's symptoms are often characterized by back pain, nausea, indigestion, dizziness, and fatigue. While typical symptoms are hard to recognize, it is important to be vigilant about heart health.

Many lifesaving treatments like anticlotting drugs and angioplasty work best if given within the first hour of a heart attack, so it is important that we know what is going on with us as women. But before you get to that point, you want to prevent life-threatening heart attacks the easy way, through lifestyle changes that can keep heart disease in check.

The NIH and the FDA have helpful guidelines about steps that all American women and men can take to improve heart health. Some tips are as easy as talking to your doctor about it, and some are as easy as taking a daily stroll.

I appreciate the opportunity to speak on this resolution, and I hope women all across the country will take some time to do something good for themselves relative to their heart, and to wear red.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to yield so much time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Tennessee (Mrs. Blackburn).

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Oklahoma (Ms. Fallin), who is a cosponsor of this resolution, such time as she may consume.

I have no further speakers, and I also I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate both of my fine colleagues here and their sponsorship of this great resolution to honor women and, of course, the American Heart Association Go Red for Women Month. It is a very important resolution, and I thank the gentlewoman from California for her leadership in the Women's Caucus, especially in highlighting women's health.

I, too, am very proud to be a sponsor of this legislation. As you know, February is American Heart Month, and now is a great time for all of our Members of Congress, and concerned citizens in our Nation, to focus on how we can live healthier lifestyles, to educate ourselves on what we can do to prevent heart disease and to prevent stroke, and to live the kind of quality of life that we all deserve.

I think it has already been mentioned that heart disease is the number one killer in the United States, and it certainly is a huge problem in the State of Oklahoma. Heart disease afflicts more than one in four Americans, and nearly 80 million in total in our Nation. And for many, it is a deadly disease. Heart disease also kills about two Americans per minute.

And contrary to popular opinion, heart disease is every bit as dangerous for women as it is for men. In the last two decades, more women than men have died from it. In my home State alone, almost 20 women a day die from heart-related illnesses.

Tomorrow, millions of men and women are participating in National Go Red Day. I know I have on black today, and I think all the other ladies have on black, but tomorrow we will be wearing our red. I encourage all of our colleagues here in Congress to wear their red, as well as those around the Nation.

As we wear red tomorrow, we will remind those around us of the importance of fighting this disease. And we can fight this disease by starting just to take some simple precautions: exercising, maintaining healthy eating styles, and refraining of course from habits that are harmful to our health like smoking.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues and all Americans to wear red tomorrow, and to remember the millions of people who suffer with heart disease and to think about what we can do to fight this terrible illness.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 972, Supporting the Goals and Ideals of American Heart Month and National Wear Red Day. February is American Heart month, and today, I join women across the country by wearing red to increase the awareness of heart disease as the leading killer among women and men.

Minorities are disproportionately affected by cardiac disease. In a diverse State like Hawaii, this is an especially important issue. As a Congresswoman, I support funding for medical research and improved treatment. And I will continue to advocate for affordable, accessible health care for all.

However, fighting heart disease is not only a public policy issue. Americans can help prevent and reduce heart disease and decrease the deaths it causes through education and lifestyle changes. Adults should learn the signs of heart attack and stroke, because quick recognition will increase the chance of survival. And we should all make a point to live healthier. Eating better, exercising more, and refraining from smoking are common sense lifestyle choices that could save our lives. I know how hard it is to make time to eat right and get to the gym--but it is worth it. As we celebrate Valentine's Day and affairs of the heart, let us commit ourselves to making that effort for improved heart health.

Madam Speaker, due to events in my district I will miss votes on February 14, 2008. Had I been present, the Record would reflect the following votes:

H. Res. 982, providing for the adoption of H. Res. 979 and H. Res. 980, contempt of Congress resolutions, ``yea.''

H. Res. 966, honoring African-American inventors, past and present, for their leadership, courage, and significant contributions to our national competitiveness, ``yea.''

H.R. 1834, National Ocean Exploration Program Act, ``yea.''

S. 2571, to make technical corrections to the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, ``yea.''

H. Con. Res. 289, honoring and praising the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People on the occasion of its 99th anniversary, ``yea.''

H.R. 4169, American Braille Flag Memorial Act, ``yea.''

H. Res. 790, commending the people of the State of Washington for showing their support for the needs of the State of Washington's veterans and encouraging residents of the other States to pursue creative ways to show their own support for veterans, ``yea.''

H. Res. 963, supporting the goals and ideals of National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans Week, ``yea.''

H. Res. 972, supporting the goals and ideals of American Heart Month and National Wear Red Day, ``yea.''