25 LC 112 3403
House Resolution 619
By: Representatives Bennett of the 94
th
, Hugley of the 141
st
, Bazemore of the 69
th
, Carter of
the 93
rd
, Alexander of the 66
th
, and others
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing April 2025 as Minority Health Month to encourage cholesterol screening; and
1
for other purposes.2
WHEREAS, high cholesterol, also called hypercholesterolemia, is the chronic presence of3
high levels of cholesterol in the blood that can lead to cardiovascular disease, and even4
cardiovascular events like heart attacks or strokes; and 5
WHEREAS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that6
cardiovascular disease is arguably the most underappreciated public health crisis of our time,7
and someone in the United States has a heart attack every 40 seconds, yet about 80 percent8
are preventable; and9
WHEREAS, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), or "bad" cholesterol, is an easily10
modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease, more than 80 million adults have high11
LDL-C, and lower LDL-C is associated with a reduced risk of heart attack and stroke; and12
WHEREAS, heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States among racial and13
ethnic minority populations; and14
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WHEREAS, cardiovascular disease accounts for more than 22,000 deaths in Georgia a year,
15
which is one in three deaths overall; and16
WHEREAS, in 2019, African Americans were 30 percent more likely to die from heart17
disease than non-Hispanic whites, and although African American adults are 30 percent more18
likely to have high blood pressure, they are less likely than non-Hispanic whites to have their19
blood pressure under control; and20
WHEREAS, African American women are nearly 50 percent more likely to have high blood21
pressure, as compared to non-Hispanic white women; and22
WHEREAS, the American Heart Association (AHA) has demonstrated that Hispanic23
Americans are at exceptionally high risk for cardiovascular disease and coronary heart24
disease, both of which can lead to a stroke or heart attack; and25
WHEREAS, the AHA indicates that cardiovascular disease disproportionately affects26
minority populations: 52.3 percent of Hispanic males and 42.7 percent of Hispanic females27
over the age of 20 are affected by cardiovascular disease and 60.1 percent of Black males and28
58.8 percent of Black females 20 years of age and older have cardiovascular disease; and29
WHEREAS, the CDC found that one in three deaths in the United States is due to heart30
disease and this results in more than $216 billion in healthcare cost; and31
WHEREAS, nearly 60 percent of middle-aged Hispanic adults have high cholesterol, yet32
only half are aware of this, according to a study published in the Journal of the American33
Medical Association; and34
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WHEREAS, a study published in the American Journal of Preventative Cardiology found
35
cholesterol testing, an important preventive measure for reducing the risk of cardiovascular36
disease, declined during the COVID-19 pandemic; and37
WHEREAS, the resources needed to bend the curve in cardiovascular disease exist, yet 7138
percent of hypercholesterolemia patients at high risk of a cardiovascular event never achieve39
recommended LDL-C treatment guideline thresholds; and40
WHEREAS, the LDL-C Action Summit, a consortium of the nation's leading cardiovascular41
stakeholder groups, seeks to cut cardiovascular events in half by 2030; and42
WHEREAS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Million Hearts program seeks43
to improve access and quality of care to reduce heart disease, stroke, and death; and44
WHEREAS, all are encouraged to know their LDL-C level; and45
WHEREAS, the United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority46
Health recognizes April as National Minority Health Month; and47
WHEREAS, the Georgia Department of Health is urged to update the state's cardiovascular48
plan to accelerate quality improvements and measures to achieve improved health outcomes49
for cardiovascular disease patients and develop campaigns to increase cholesterol screening50
during the month of April; and51
WHEREAS, providers are urged to treat all cardiovascular disease patients in accordance52
with American College of Cardiology treatment guidelines.53
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NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that
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the members of this body recognize April 2025 as Minority Health Month to encourage55
cholesterol screening.56
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized57
and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the58
public and the press.59
H. R. 619
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