Should Congress pass a bill for heart disease research to be more inclusive for South Asians?
This bill establishes programs that support heart-disease research and awareness among communities disproportionately affected by heart disease, including the South Asian population of the United States. It would update information on how to improve heart health with more culturally appropriate information, and update research processes with a more inclusive mindset. It would also allow Congress to appropriate funds to states that are conducting this research.
Sponsor: Representative Pramila Jayapal (Democrat, Washington, District 7)
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Opponents say
At the time of research and publication, no official opponent statements were found. This does not necessarily mean that nobody opposes the bill, nor does it mean that statements won’t be made in the future.
Proponents say
• "Science and education are among the greatest preventative tools to mitigate this issue. My bipartisan bill would direct the Department of Health and Human Services to create grants to fund research on heart disease, develop a clearinghouse and web portal of information on heart health research, and fund development of culturally appropriate materials to promote heart health among communities vulnerable to heart disease, including the South Asian community. While my bill focuses on research and resources for the South Asian community, it will deliver benefits for all Americans…Research on why South Asians are greatly impacted by heart disease will also have global implications. South Asians are about 25 percent of the world's population but comprise 60 percent of the world's heart disease patients." Source: Rep. Pramila Jayapal (Democrat, Washington, District 7)
• "Through our research we have identified alarming cardiovascular health disparities among SAAs [South Asian Americans], such as poor diet, low physical activity, high tobacco use, and high rates of obesity, diabetes, and hypertension. To address these disparities, we have partnered with community- and faith-based organizations to educate SAA communities in the New York City region about cardiovascular disease, including ways to mitigate the risk of cardiovascular disease and providing referrals to clinical and other supportive services. Our work has been cited as part of the evidence base for the latest guidelines in the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Community Preventive Guide and the Agency for Healthcare Quality and Research Innovations Exchange recommending culturally tailored community- clinical linkage strategies to improve cardiovascular and related risk factors in South Asian populations." Source: NYU Langone Health
