Hirono Leads Legislation on Heart Disease Awareness

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

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

“Heart disease kills three out of every ten people in Hawai’i 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 Senator Hirono for putting American Heart Month front and center before the nation’s lawmakers,” said Mark Creager, 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.”

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) co-sponsored the resolution.