Press Release 7/28/22
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) led House passage yesterday of the bipartisan South Asian Heart Health Awareness Act to promote heart health research and awareness of heart disease that disproportionately impacts South Asians in the United States. South Asians have four times the risk of heart disease than the general population, have a much greater chance of having a heart attack before age 50, and have emerged as the ethnic group with the highest prevalence of type 2 diabetes – a leading cause of heart disease. Video of Pallone’s remarks on the House floor are available here.
“This bill is a bipartisan, common-sense approach to an undeniable heart health and research gap for the South Asian American community. As a representative of one of one of the largest South Asian communities in the country, this bill is necessary to reverse the disproportionate impact that heart disease has on South Asian Americans,” Pallone said. “It allows states to direct culturally appropriate resources to communities disproportionately impacted by heart disease through grants and supports research efforts on cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and other heart health-related ailments among at-risk populations. These important investments will help in our efforts to address disparities in heart health currently experienced by many Americans.”
“Today is an important day for the South Asian community. This is the culmination of years of work from both inside and outside Congress to address one of the most devastating silent killers of South Asian Americans in our country. With the passage of my bill, the House of Representatives continues to live up to its commitment of being a people’s body that responds to the challenges that different communities face,” said Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal. “To South Asian Americans across the country, we hope that the passage of this bill is a meaningful sign that diverse representation matters and that your engagement, advocacy and participation in our democracy can bring meaningful progress for communities everywhere. “
“We at the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) deeply appreciate Congressman Pallone for his dedication and support to promote this bill along with Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal,” said Dr. Ravi Kolli, President, AAPI. “We will continue reach out to all our 15,000 members to advocate on behalf of this bill by reaching out to their respective Senators for its passage in the Senate.”
The bill authorizes the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to award grants to states to promote awareness of the increasing prevalence of heart disease, including its relationship to type 2 diabetes, in communities disproportionately affected by heart disease, such as South Asian communities in the United States. The bill authorizes $1 million for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2027 for these grants.
The bill also authorizes HHS to conduct or support research related to cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and other heart-related ailments among at-risk populations, including the South Asian population in the United States. The bill authorizes $1 million for each of the fiscal years 2023 through 2027 for this heart health research.
