Ellison Marks American Heart Month

Friday, February 10, 2012

WASHINGTON-- Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) released the following statement in honor of American Heart Month:

“All of us know someone who has suffered from a heart attack, heart disease, or stroke. These are not faceless statistics; they are fathers, mothers, spouses, and friends. Cardiovascular disease takes the lives of far too many Americans. One in every five deaths in Minnesota is from heart disease, or 8,000 every year.”

“Americans also spent more than $444 billion on heart disease related expenses in 2010 alone.”

“Heart disease is not inevitable. We can encourage healthy choices. We can improve school lunches, create walkable cities, and make sure our kids don’t start smoking. Thanks to investments in health and public transportation, Minnesota now has the lowest rate of heart disease nationwide.”

“But we still have a long way to go. The Obama Administration’s Million Hearts campaign, which aims to prevent one million heart attacks over the next five years, and the First Lady’s ‘Let’s Move’ campaign are great starts, but Congress needs to join the cause. American families deserve elected officials who stand for their health.”

Contact:
Jennifer Porter Gore
Jennifer.Gore@mail.house.gov

Jeremy Slevin
Jeremy.Slevin@mail.house.gov
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