[Congressional Bills 106th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [S. Res. 256 Agreed to Senate (ATS)] 106th CONGRESS 2d Session S. RES. 256 Designating the week of February 14-18, 2000, as ``National Heart Failure Awareness Week''. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES February 10, 2000 Mr. Specter (for himself, Mr. Akaka, Mr. Ashcroft, Mr. Baucus, Mr. Bayh, Mr. Bennett, Mr. Biden, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Breaux, Mr. L. Chafee, Mr. Cleland, Ms. Collins, Mr. Conrad, Mr. Craig, Mr. DeWine, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Dorgan, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Enzi, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Fitzgerald, Mr. Frist, Mr. Gorton, Mr. Graham, Mr. Gramm, Mr. Grams, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Hatch, Mr. Helms, Mr. Inouye, Mr. Kerry, Ms. Landrieu, Mr. Lautenberg, Mr. Lugar, Mr. Mack, Ms. Mikulski, Mr. Moynihan, Mr. Murkowski, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Reed, Mr. Reid, Mr. Robb, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Rockefeller, Mr. Roth, Mr. Sarbanes, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Shelby, Mr. Smith of Oregon, Mr. Thurmond, Mr. Voinovich, Mr. Warner, Mr. Wellstone, Mr. Wyden, Ms. Snowe, Mr. Jeffords, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Sessions, Mr. Stevens, and Mr. Lieberman) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to _______________________________________________________________________ RESOLUTION Designating the week of February 14-18, 2000, as ``National Heart Failure Awareness Week''. Whereas the primary goals of ``National Heart Failure Awareness Week'' are-- (1) to promote research related to all aspects of heart failure and provide a forum for presentation of that research; (2) to educate heart failure caregivers and patients through programs, publications, and other media allowing for more effective treatment and diagnosis of heart failure; and (3) to enhance the quality and duration of life for those with heart failure; Whereas heart failure, a disease of the heart muscle, is of epidemic proportions in the United States; Whereas as of January 1, 2000, approximately 4,600,000 Americans had been diagnosed with congestive heart failure, and an estimated 450,000 more cases will be diagnosed in the year 2000; Whereas coronary artery disease is a cause in approximately 50 percent of the cases of patients with heart failure, and in such cases, patients often have heart attacks or require bypass surgery; Whereas the incidence of heart failure increases with age and is the most frequent cause of hospitalization for individuals over the age of 65; Whereas the prognosis for those diagnosed with heart failure is not promising, as less than 50 percent of patients live more than 5 years after their initial diagnosis; and Whereas it is vital that the American public become aware of the enormous impact of heart failure, and be better educated regarding the signs and symptoms of the disease: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate-- (1) in recognition of all the individuals who have devoted time and energy toward increasing public awareness and education on heart failure, designates the week of February 14- 18, 2000, as ``National Heart Failure Awareness Week''; and (2) requests that the President issue a proclamation calling on the people of the United States to observe the week with appropriate ceremonies and activities. <all>