Congress Asked to Boost Funding for Cardiovascular Diseases
The American Heart Association's Congressional Lobby Day, subtitled "You're the Cure on the Hill 2008," wraps up today with a delegation asking members of Congress to increase funding for research and prevention programs to fight cardiovascular diseases. AHA's representatives, including President Dr. Daniel Jones and President-Elect Dr. Timothy Gardner; CEO M. Cass Wheeler; Board Chairman Gary Ellis; nearly 700 heart and stroke survivors; and researchers, have been visiting the Capitol today and yesterday.
Specifically, they’re asking for more money for the National Institutes of Health and CDC's Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention program, and they want No Child Left Behind amended to make quality physical education a priority in schools. Full details are available at www.yourethecureonthehill.heart.org.
This evening, U.S. Reps. Nick Lampson and Randy Kuhl are scheduled to receive AHA Public Service Awards at a 5 p.m. reception in the Dirksen Building on Constitution Avenue in Washington. Health and nutrition advocate Jared Fogle, spokesman for Start! -- AHA's movement to get Americans more physically active – will speak at the reception, as will Neil Meltzer, AHA Advocacy Coordinating Committee chair. Kuhl, a Republican, represents New York State’s 29th Congressional District. He serves on the House Education and Labor Committee and on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Lampson, a Democrat, represents the 22nd Congressional District of Texas and serves on the Committee on Science and Technology.