Please write to your State Representative in support of the South Asian Heart Health Awareness and Research Act of 2017, HR 3131. https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/hr3592/BILLS-115hr3592ih.xml
This bill will promote recognition of the high risk of heart disease seen in our growing South Asian population, and develop treatment strategies that ultimately will save lives. The federal government’s investment in research and prevention of heart disease, especially in the highest risk groups, will reduce long-term utilization of health care dollars. Through previous and ongoing research supported by the NIH, we have already learned the following:
South Asians living in the U.S. have on average 4x higher risk for heart disease compared to the general population.
Heart disease presents in South Asians at younger ages (5--10 years earlier) compared to other groups, with heart attacks often occurring before age 50.
The proportion of death due to heart disease is significantly higher in South Asians compared to other race/ethnic groups, especially at younger ages.
Research has shown that, through early screening for heart disease and risk factors, along with development of culturally tailored prevention programs, heart disease risk in the South Asian population can be lowered, saving lives while also significantly reducing health care costs.
SPECIFICALLY, this bill will:
Create South Asian Heart Health Promotion Grants at the Centers for Disease Control to develop a clearinghouse and web portal of information on South Asian heart health, develop culturally appropriate materials to promote heart health in the South Asian community, and provide grants to work with community groups involved in South Asian heart health promotion;
Authorize grants through NIH to conduct research on cardiovascular disease and other heart ailments among South Asian populations living in the United States;
Authorize grants through USDA’s extramural science granting agency, the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, for the promotion of South Asian heart health nutrition; and
Include a Sense of Congress that U.S. medical schools should include as part of their nutrition curriculum, a focus on South Asian diet and ways to achieve optimal nutrition in these populations.
If you support the bill, please use the information below to reach out to your representative and ask them to support HR 3131.
STEP-BY STEP INFO TO CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE
STEP-BY STEP INFO TO CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE
Go to the link to find your representative. https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative. You can enter your home zip code to find your representative. After you find your representative, you can click on their name to go to their website. On the website, go to the “Contact” tab and find the phone number to their office.
You can call your representative during normal business hours and talk to a staff member. Please mention that you are a resident and provide them with your contact information and state that you are calling to support the South Asian Heart Health Awareness and Research Act of 2017, HR 3131. If you would like you can mention any specific personal reason why you would like to support this bill. Below is an example for your reference.
“I am calling to support HR 3131. I am a xx year old South Asian female and this bill affects me and my family members personally. I know of friends and family members affected by heart disease and this bill will help create awareness about this important health issue.
EMAIL TO BE SENT TO YOUR REPRESENTATIVE IF YOU ARE A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER