Tuesday, April 21st, nearly 500 You’re the Cure advocates from every state in the nation converged on Capitol Hill to ask their federal lawmakers to make the No. 1 and No. 3 killers in America, heart disease and stroke, a No. 1 priority. These enthusiastic volunteer-advocates participated in an incredible 354 meetings on Capitol Hill that day and brought with them powerful stories to share with their legislators. Watch our You’re the Cure on the Hill highlight video here!
RIGHT: Small but mighty, the DE Delegation (from left, Dr. Lisa Mealy, Diane Gutierrez, Jonathan Kirch) met with Representative Mike Castle.
Representing the Great Rivers Affiliate were 51 survivors, caregivers, healthcare professionals, researchers and staff all dressed in red. Each of these dedicated advocates took time out of their busy schedules to travel to Washington, D.C., to urge their legislators to support three primary issues critical to improving the heart-health of our nation: increased National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding for research, increased Centers for Disease Control (CDC) funding to address prevention and treatment and healthcare reform so that all Americans have adequate, accessible and affordable healthcare.
Volunteers urged passage of meaningful healthcare reform, including coverage without regard to pre-existing conditions which is a serious concern for heart disease and stroke survivors. They also explained that the NIH invests only 4% of its budget on heart disease research and a mere 1% on stroke research. In addition, they shared that only 14 states receive CDC funding for state-tailored programs to prevent cardiovascular disease. They asked that their legislators sign a letter to the President asking him to make increased funding for heart disease and stroke research and prevention a priority in his budget next year. And what a success: by the next day, several legislators heard our message and had already signed on! It’s not too late!
Many thanks to all our advocates, those who joined us in D.C., and those of you who continually make your voices heard by sending email messages and making phone calls and in-district legislative visits. You are ALL a vital part of the Cure for heart disease and stroke!
LEFT: Kentucky delegation with Senator Bunning.
CENTER: Our Ohio delegation between legislative visits.
RIGHT: The PA Delegation, including AHA’s President, Dr. Timothy Gardner, met with John Myers, Senator Arlen Specter’s Senior Health and Science Policy Advisor
ABOVE: West Virginia advocates Dr. Paulette Wehner and Sharon Stackpole met with Senator Rockefeller’s legislative assistant Kate Gross.
RIGHT: Small but mighty, the DE Delegation (from left, Dr. Lisa Mealy, Diane Gutierrez, Jonathan Kirch) met with Representative Mike Castle. Representing the Great Rivers Affiliate were 51 survivors, caregivers, healthcare professionals, researchers and staff all dressed in red. Each of these dedicated advocates took time out of their busy schedules to travel to Washington, D.C., to urge their legislators to support three primary issues critical to improving the heart-health of our nation: increased National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding for research, increased Centers for Disease Control (CDC) funding to address prevention and treatment and healthcare reform so that all Americans have adequate, accessible and affordable healthcare.
Volunteers urged passage of meaningful healthcare reform, including coverage without regard to pre-existing conditions which is a serious concern for heart disease and stroke survivors. They also explained that the NIH invests only 4% of its budget on heart disease research and a mere 1% on stroke research. In addition, they shared that only 14 states receive CDC funding for state-tailored programs to prevent cardiovascular disease. They asked that their legislators sign a letter to the President asking him to make increased funding for heart disease and stroke research and prevention a priority in his budget next year. And what a success: by the next day, several legislators heard our message and had already signed on! It’s not too late!
Many thanks to all our advocates, those who joined us in D.C., and those of you who continually make your voices heard by sending email messages and making phone calls and in-district legislative visits. You are ALL a vital part of the Cure for heart disease and stroke!
LEFT: Kentucky delegation with Senator Bunning.
CENTER: Our Ohio delegation between legislative visits.
RIGHT: The PA Delegation, including AHA’s President, Dr. Timothy Gardner, met with John Myers, Senator Arlen Specter’s Senior Health and Science Policy Advisor
ABOVE: West Virginia advocates Dr. Paulette Wehner and Sharon Stackpole met with Senator Rockefeller’s legislative assistant Kate Gross.
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