Key Issues

Across-the-board federal budget cuts that took effect in March, known as the sequester, eliminated $1.5 billion or 5% from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) budget. These devastating cuts are already causing the cancellation or delay of promising research projects throughout the country, slowing progress in the prevention and treatment of heart disease and stroke- as well as other diseases like cancer, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s.

The American Heart Association has joined other groups in the medical research community in urging Congress to restore the funds cut in the sequester and to dedicate $32 billion for NIH in the fiscal year ahead to get NIH back on track.  President Obama’s FY2014 budget proposal submitted to Congress on April 10^th requested $31.331 billion for the NIH.

Both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives have passed budget bills, and the work now moves to the committees charged with appropriating the funds.  Restoring funding for NIH has strong bipartisan support, with 52 Senators and 168 Representatives having signed letters asking appropriators to get the NIH back on track so life-saving medical research isn’t delayed any further. 

The recent funding cuts will reduce the number of planned grants by about 2,300, eliminate more than 20,000 jobs nationwide, and reduce new economic activity by nearly $3 billion.  It is vital we bring these statistics to life, as appropriators decide the future funding levels for NIH, by sharing real stories about the devastating impact these funding cuts have on heart disease and stroke researchers and patients.

AHA volunteer Dr. Steven Houser, a researcher at Temple University , was recently featured in a news article, sharing the difficult choice he must make between firing staff or cutting back on promising research as a result of funding cuts from the sequester.  This is happening in research labs across the country, and ultimately the impact will trickle down to patients as new treatments and possible cures are put on hold.

Why does restoring medical research funding matter to you?  Share your story now!

We will continue to keep you updated on this critical funding situation and will need your help to continue to push Congress to act to restore funding for medical research that is imperative to the fight against heart disease and stroke. 

Against the backdrop of Washington, DC’s famous cherry blossoms, 300 You’re the Cure advocates joined together in our nation’s capital in April to deliver a strong message to Congress: Invest in our health!  Here are just a few of the highlights of You’re the Cure on the Hill 2013 activities…

We rallied for medical research!  Thousands of advocates from the medical research community came together on April 8^th to make some noise about the need for Congress to prioritize our nation’s investment in research.  And You’re the Cure advocates were in on all of the action! 

Juddson Rupp from North Carolina and Amy Edmunds from South Carolina were two of the featured survivor-speakers that joined journalist Cokie Roberts, Representative Chris Van Hollen (MD-8), Representative Rosa DeLauro (CT-3), and others on stage to deliver the message and inspire the crowd. 

And what an active crowd it was!  You’re the Cure advocates joined in the cheers of “More Progress! More Hope!  More Life!”, as they held-up big red hearts with the names of over 6,000 of their fellow advocates from across the country who pledged their support for medical research funding. 

Check out some more great pictures from the Rally for Medical Research!

We turned Capitol Hill Red!  The enthusiasm from the rally spilled over into our day on Capitol Hill on April 9^th.  As heart disease and stroke survivors, caregivers, researchers, and medical professionals, each advocate had an important story and perspective to share with their Members of Congress, as we asked lawmakers to restore funding for the National Institutes of Health and support the Million Hearts initiative.   

Dressed in red, advocates met with 252 congressional offices in the course of one day!  And their visits came at a critical time, with legislators determining their funding priorities for the coming year. 

See your fellow advocates in action with our nation’s decision-makers on Capitol Hill!

We honored our 2013 Advocates of the Year!  At the local, state, and federal level, You’re the Cure advocates across the country work year after year to advance public policies that help build healthier communities and healthier lives free of heart disease and stroke.  So, we were proud to recognize four of these outstanding individuals as our 2013 Advocates of the Year!  Join us in congratulating:

Dr. William Weintraub (PA): Science-Advocate of the Year

Lee Storrow (NC): Volunteer-Advocate of the Year

Yolanda Dickerson (NC): Survivor-Advocate of the Year

Tommy Watson (VT): Youth-Advocate of the Year

Watch this great video to learn about their amazing work!

(Please visit the site to view this video)

American Heart Association CEO Nancy Brown issued the following comment today on President Obama’s proposed fiscal year 2014 federal budget:

“While President Obama’s budget moves in the right direction by restoring the National Institutes of Health funding cut by the sequester, the administration’s proposal fails to fully account for medical research inflation and puts promising new research opportunities at risk. Over the past decade, the NIH has lost 20 percent of its purchasing power.

NIH-funded research is the best chance to find a cure for heart disease, stroke and other forms of cardiovascular disease that kill more than 800,000 Americans each year. Yet, stagnant federal support is holding back hope for the millions of Americans who suffer from these diseases.

The budget also includes an increase of $5 million for Million Hearts™, a national public-private initiative developed to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes by 2017. Although we are pleased that these investments to support heart disease and stroke prevention activities were proposed for 2014, we are disappointed that the administration failed to commit additional resources from the prevention trust fund specifically targeting the 37 million adult Americans with uncontrolled high blood pressure. These people are four times more likely to die of a stroke and three times more likely to die of heart disease.  

Historically, nonprofits try to step in when government funding slows down. But the administration’s proposal to cut the charitable tax deduction could threaten the ability of these organizations to fill gaps left by cuts in prevention, research and social services programs. We urge the administration to increase, rather than reduce, incentives in the tax code that promote charitable giving – particularly when federal budgets are constrained.

The American Heart Association appreciates that this proposed budget does not undermine Medicare’s fundamental guarantee of health and financial security to millions of elderly and disabled Americans. Yet we believe more can be done to improve the health care Medicare beneficiaries receive and to further extend the program’s financial health. Moving forward, we will evaluate the savings recommended by the administration to see how they measure up to these goals, and continue to oppose any effort to shift costs to our most vulnerable beneficiaries suffering from heart disease and stroke. In the meantime, we are pleased that the budget protects Medicaid and recognizes that it is a lean and efficient program that serves as a needed safety net for millions of the most vulnerable patients.

Finally, we commend the president for recommending a tobacco tax increase. Study after study has shown that the fastest way to encourage people to quit smoking is to raise the cost of tobacco products. A federal increase will be a strong incentive for current smokers to have their last cigarette and prevent other people from ever taking up this deadly habit.”

More than 300 American Heart Association volunteers came to Washington, D.C. today to urge Congress to restore federal funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and to support a Million Hearts campaign to attack the growing problem of high blood pressure – public health enemy No. 2 behind tobacco.  

Heart disease and stroke survivors, researchers, and healthcare professionals from around the country are meeting with their congressional representatives to ask them to allocate $32 billion for the NIH for 2014, to restore funding cut by the sequester and get NIH back on track.

The March 1 sequester slashed nearly $1.5 billion, or 5 percent, of the NIH budget. A cut of this magnitude will reduce the number of planned research grants by about 2,300, cost more than 20,000 jobs nationwide and shrink new economic activity by nearly $3 billion. A typical NIH grant supports about seven full-time or part-time jobs, most of them high-tech.  Every dollar that the NIH distributes through grants returns more than $2 in goods and services annually to a local community. 

“If the NIH cuts remain in place, they will damage our fragile economy and threaten our nation’s position as the global leader in medical research,” said American Heart Association President Donna Arnett, Ph.D., MSPH. “More importantly, medical research is vital to discovering new treatments and even cures for generations to come. We must not give up the fight to increase federal support for the NIH.” 

Advocates also asked Congress to fund a $35 million Million Hearts Initiative to tackle one of the nation’s most significant public health problems, high blood pressure. More than one in three adults in the United States have high blood pressure, but less than half have their condition under control. High blood pressure is one of the leading risk factors for heart attack or stroke.

Visit the You're the Cure Facebook page for some great photos and stay tuned for further updates about the amazing advocates who made their voices heard on Capitol Hill. 

We’re less than a week away from the Rally for Medical Research- a unified call to our nation’s policymakers about the critical need for a sustained investment in the National Institutes of Health to improve health, drive innovation, and support jobs!  This significant event will bring together thousands of patients, researchers, government officials, and business leaders in Washington, DC- and tens of thousands of health-advocates across the country who will join the event virtually.  We want to make sure you’re part of the action too.  Here are a few easy ways to participate: 

1)      Watch the rally from your home computer!  On April 8th at 11:00 am EST, the rally will be shown LIVE on YouTube.  So, tune-in to hear from great speakers, including NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins and some of our very own You're the Cure survivor-advocates, about the importance of medical research to our nation’s health and economy.  You'll also get to see our red hearts waving in the crowd! 

2)      Speak-Up! This rally will make a strong statement to our nation’s leaders about the wide-spread support for funding for the National Institutes of Health, but it’s up to each of us to make sure our own Senators and Representative get the message loud and clear.  So after the rally, call, email, or tweet at your legislators about the importance of funding medical research. 

3)      “Like” and “Follow” the Action- We’ll be posting live updates on our Facebook and Twitter pages from the rally on 4/8 and from Capitol Hill on 4/9, as your fellow advocates meet with Members of Congress.  ‘Like’, ‘Share’, and ‘Re-tweet’ along with us!

With the recent enactment of the across-the-board cuts known as sequestration, federal funding for medical research continues to erode, threatening progress being made toward life-saving discoveries.  That’s why this strong statement to our nation’s elected officials is so critical.  Thank you for standing with us and taking action on behalf of the heart and stroke community! 

There’s something big about to happen in Washington, DC, that you need to be a part of!  On April 8th, thousands of patients and researchers, including hundreds of our You’re the Cure advocates, will join together in our nation’s capital to deliver a strong, unified message to Congress that our nation’s investment in medical research must be prioritized. It’s called the Rally for Medical Research- and just because you’re not in DC, doesn’t mean you can’t be there with us!  Here are a few easy ways to get involved:

1. Add your name to our ‘Many Hearts, One Voice for Medical Research’ petition today. Your fellow advocates attending the rally will carry big hearts proudly displaying the names of supporters from across the country, like you, who want our nation’s decision makers to get the message loud and clear: We need cures, not cuts!
2. Help us get the word out!  The more names we have on our hearts, the bigger the presence of the heart and stroke community will be at the rally, so encourage your friends and family to sign the petition too.  Post the link (http://yourethecure.org/heartsforresearch) to Facebook and Twitter today. 
3. Watch the rally from your home computer!  On April 8th at 11:00 am EST, the rally will be live-streaming on YouTube, so tune-in to hear from great speakers, including NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins and even a couple of our very own You're the Cure advocates about how critical medical research is.  You'll also get to see our red hearts waving in the crowd!  Watch here.   

Medical research saves lives, inspires hope, fosters innovation, and boosts the economy. Yet, our country’s investment in the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the world’s leading research institution, continues to decline. This threatens the fight against heart disease and stroke, our nation’s No. 1 and No. 4 killers- and the jobs of the researchers who have dedicated their careers to advancing science that saves lives.  It’s time to turn things around- and this rally makes an important statement to Congress.  Thank you for joining with us to show your support for making medical research funding a national priority!

 As Congress considers funding proposals for federal programs, Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) has offered an amendment on the Senate floor that would provide very modest increases for medical research, prevention and treatment programs of interest to us, including National Institutes of Health and the Rural and Community Access to a AEDs program, which increases survival rates for people who suffer sudden cardiac arrest. Senator Harkin’s amendment will help advance the mission of the American Heart Association.

ACTION NEEDED

The U.S. Senate is scheduled to vote soon, likely this evening- March 13th, on the amendment. Please take just 5 minutes to call your two United States Senators and ask them to vote in favor of Senator Harkin’s amendment. Simply dial the Capitol Hill switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask to be connected to your U.S. Senator.  After being connected, ask for the health legislative assistant.  If you reach his/her voicemail, leave a short message. After hanging up from that office, please call the Capitol Hill switchboard again to be connected to your second U.S. Senator. 

Talking Points for your calls

• Hello.  May I please speak with the Health Legislative Assistant.
• (please leave a message if you reach voice mail)
• Hi, this is (name) from (city and state).  I am a volunteer for the American Heart Association.
• Please ask Senator (name) to vote in favor of Senator Harkin’s amendment to the Continuing Resolution.
• Passage of this amendment will help advance the fight against heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases, the No. 1 killer in our State and the most costly illness in the U.S.
• Specifically, this amendment will help the National Institutes of Health make continued progress against heart disease and stroke.  Also, it will help save lives of people who suffer from sudden cardiac arrest, a particularly deadly form of heart disease.  Thank you.

 Please be sure to report your call in the action center.  

Washington, D.C., March 1, 2013 — American Heart Association CEO Nancy Brown issued the following statement today on how the sequester cuts will endanger the nation’s heart health:

“The sequester cuts pose a serious threat to the extraordinary progress we have made in the fight against heart disease and stroke.  If they are allowed to remain in place, these devastating reductions will tie the hands of heart and stroke researchers to advance lifesaving treatments and cures. They will also slash support for prevention efforts that encourage healthy behaviors and ultimately drive down our nation’s rising healthcare costs.

Under the sequester, promising research funded by the National Institutes of Health will eventually be halted, and thousands of jobs will be lost from labs that can’t afford to pay researchers without federal support. For example, the NIH’s National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke has identified nine critical priorities for stroke prevention, treatment and recovery research. But under the sequester cuts, scientists can only focus on one priority, further delaying progress in the prevention and treatment of the No. 4 cause of death in the United States.

Finally, these mandatory cuts will further reduce funding for the Prevention and Public Health Fund.  As a result, communities will be denied much-needed funds to invest in cost-effective, evidence-based prevention initiatives that address public-health concerns such as childhood obesity, tobacco use, high blood pressure and cholesterol.

By 2030, more than 40 percent of Americans are projected to have some form of cardiovascular disease, annually costing this country $818 billion in direct healthcare costs and nearly $308 billion in indirect costs.  Clearly, the nation’s health cannot afford to bear the brunt of the sequester cuts.  We urge Congress to restore funding for the NIH and the Prevention and Public Health Fund so we can keep all Americans on the path to ideal heart health.”

As the effects of the sequester become apparent, we want to hear from you.  Are you feeling the impact of NIH funding cuts?  Share your story with us today!

It’s time to welcome the 113^th Congress!  We all know the best welcomes are personal, so we’re asking You’re the Cure advocates to introduce themselves to their members of Congress by recording a video and uploading it to Facebook.

We’re calling it the “Hello, my name is ____” campaign.  We want your elected officials to know you and your heart or stroke story- and to remember it when they vote this year.  When you record your video, consider using this script (and try to keep your video to about 60 seconds!):

 “Hi my name is [your name] from [City, State].”

 “I am passionate about policy changes that can help improve cardiovascular health in this country because [tell your story].”

 “Now that I’ve shared my story with you, I have one question for you: Will you remember me when you vote this year?”

Watch an example from our National Grassroots Director, Clarissa Garcia:

(Please visit the site to view this video)

Once you’ve recorded your video on your phone, tablet, or camera, save it and upload it to Facebook. To upload your video to Facebook:

1. Scroll to the top of your Facebook homepage where your status box is.
2. Click Add Photos/Video.
3. Click Upload Photos/Video.
4. Select your video from the location you saved it to on your computer or mobile device.
5. Write a post for your video.  Make sure to ‘tag’ your Representative and Senators and our American Heart Association: You’re the Cure page!  We recommend using this caption:

Hello, @[Enter your lawmakers names starting with an “@” symbol to tag their accounts], my name is [your name], and I’m an @[American Heart Association: You’re the Cure] advocate. Here’s why I support heart-healthy and stroke-smart public policies. Will you remember me when you vote this year?

(Note: Use our Legislator Search tool to identify your Representative and Senators.  You’ll need to “Like” their Facebook pages in order to ‘tag’ them with your video.)

If you’re unable to upload a video, there’s another easy way to introduce yourself to your legislators. Simply share your story by sending a personalized email today!

As always, if you have any questions, feel free to let us know at advocacydc@heart.org. 

We can’t wait to see your videos. Thanks for being the cure!

A financial crisis was averted by Congress this week, but the solution is temporary with regards to funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Funding cuts for NIH and other federal programs have been delayed, but are not off the table as Congress continues to seek ways to steer our nation towards economic recovery.

NIH faced devastating funding cuts under a sequester- across-the-board cuts to federally funded programs that were slated to take place as we embarked on the new year. The deal passed this week by Congress, known as the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, delayed a sequester until March 1, 2013. That means cuts to NIH funding are still looming, and we have more work to do.

Thanks to all the You're the Cure advocates who've been fighting with us to preserve our nation's investment in NIH. Just before the holidays, you helped us get the signatures of 60 Members of Congress on a bipartisan letter to House and Senate leadership asking that they protect NIH funding. You can see the final letter here! 

Stay tuned for more ways you can let the new Congress know that we can't afford cuts to NIH funding. Your continued action will be critical!

On December 12th, American Heart Association President Dr. Donna Arnett, Chair of the Advocacy Coordinating Committee Dr. Elliot Antman, and AHA staff welcomed the new Director of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute at the National Institutes of Health, Dr. Gary Gibbons at a reception on Capitol Hill.

Dr. Gibbons spoke about his extensive background with the NIH and the importance of medical research. Also in attendance were the U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Regina Benjamin, and Representatives Donna Christensen, Lois Capps, and Mike Crapo.  

It’s almost the end of year, which means you are likely counting the days to festive holiday celebrations and the start of the New Year! But there is another countdown that needs our immediate attention. In just two weeks, medical research funding will be cut by about $2.5 billion, if Congress fails to act by the end of the year.

Will you take two minutes to let your Representative know you support our nation’s investment in research?

This year You’re the Cure advocates shared countless stories about the ways research has impacted their lives. From the stroke survivor who relied on new technology to regain movement and strength in his arm to the researcher who has dedicated his career to investigating the cause of arrhythmias, medical research is critical to the health of our nation.

In this tough economic environment, we all know Congress needs to make difficult budget decisions. However, it up to us to ensure that all legislators understand the value of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). NIH-funded research supports more than 432,000 jobs in the United States and generated $62 billion in new economic activity last year alone. But the scheduled cuts will mean the loss of 33,000 research-related jobs and many promising research discoveries will be put on hold.

Right now, a letter is circulating in the House of Representatives for lawmakers to sign to demonstrate their commitment to the NIH- and we need your Representative to get on board. This letter will be delivered to the leaders of the House and Senate as they try to negotiate a deal before the end of the year. The deadline for signatures is 12:00pm ET on December 21st- so please don’t waste another minute to make your voice heard. Act now!

As we get ready to welcome the 113^th Congress to Capitol Hill in January, we wanted to take a moment to reflect on all of the activity that took place on key heart and stroke issues this year.  In a tough economic environment, You’re the Cure advocates, like you, helped play critical defense to protect funding and programs that support our shared mission of building healthier lives.

We’re also proud to report that over 34,000 new grassroots advocates joined You’re the Cure this year, making our unified voice that much stronger in our communities, our states, and in the nation’s capital.  And what a noise we made!  Advocates took over 350,000 actions this year, from sending emails and making phone calls, to attending events and meeting with lawmakers, and more.   

Thank you for your hard work to influence Congress in 2012.  We’re excited to make even more progress in 2013!

Congress is considering drastic measures in order to reduce the deficit, including “sequestration,” which means arbitrary, across-the-board cuts to most federal programs. Medical research funding is slated to be cut by more than 8%, about $2.5 billion, which would halt heart and stroke research projects and wipe out 33,000 jobs across the country. 

Contact Congress today. Tell them WE NEED CURES, NOT CUTS!

Deficit reduction is important, but continued cuts that stifle medical progress are the wrong way to do it. Funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), our nation’s preeminent research institution, provides thousands of jobs and drives additional economic activity. If Congress enacts these cuts, economic growth will slow while we also jeopardize our role as a world leader in medical research. 

These are cuts we simply cannot afford. 

With these cuts, we all lose valuable time in the battle against heart disease, stroke, and other diseases like Alzheimer’s  disease, diabetes, Parkinson’s Disease, muscular dystrophy, lupus…you get the picture. We can’t let that happen. 

This week, we join with many other groups in raising our voices to protect NIH funding. It’s time to tell Congress: WE NEED CURES, NOT CUTS!

On October 27^th and 28^th, patient-advocates gathered in Washington, DC for a workshop hosted by the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) to begin a dialogue about the inclusion and engagement of patients at every step of the research process.  PCORI, created under the Affordable Care Act, will fund research that will provide patients, their caregivers and clinicians with the evidence-based information needed to make better-informed health care decisions.

The American Heart Association supports PCORI’s work and was proud that two of our volunteers were selected to attend the workshop.  As the mother of a pediatric stroke survivor, Jessica Spear from Missouri knows firsthand the challenge caregivers face in determining which health care decisions are best for their loved one.  “I feel with patient and caregiver input, we can accomplish an overall better healthcare system in the United States, one that has all parties involved.  We can be the voices for our specific demographic,” she said.

Rob Edwards, the Director of Strategic Initiatives and Regulatory Affairs at the University of Kentucky Medical Center, also sees great value in PCORI’s mission.  “In all aspects of the health care delivery system, we have struggled to identify sustainable patient-centered models of care, research and clinical education.  We know we need to do better and this is real funding to continue forward the principle of thinking ‘patient first’,” he said.

As Jessica and Rob’s participation in the workshop demonstrates, PCORI is committed to seeking input from all stakeholders.  Currently, PCORI has a survey open for the public to be able to offer research questions they’d like to see answered through the institute’s work.  And Rob shared that the workshop ended with PCORI announcing a new grant opportunity aimed at finding solutions for connecting patients and researchers.  

For more information about PCORI, please visit www.pcori.org. 

Tonight is the last Presidential debate, marking the home stretch of the campaign season.  I bet you've seen your fair share of candidate ads, news features, and campaign literature this season.  But at the end of the day, when you sift through all the information, the one thing most voters are looking for is where the candidates stand on the issues that matter most to you.  That’s why the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association is pleased to be a part of the Your Candidates, Your Health campaign, led by Research!America.

Together we are calling on Presidential and Congressional candidates to tell us what their commitment is to medical research funding. Candidates are asked to take a simple survey and their responses are shared on the Research!America website.  Take a moment to see if your candidates have responded yet- and if they haven't, send them a request to take the survey.   

Researchers and patients alike can agree that without a continued investment in research funding, many medical advances will never make it to the heart and stroke patients who need them.  So, before casting your vote on November 6th, do your research on where your candiates stand on medical research. 

You’re the Cure advocate Ravi Balijepalli, Ph.D , recently hosted Manny Vasquez , Regional Director for U.S. Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI), at the Cardiovascular Research Center at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine. Dr. Balijepalli, Assistant Professor of Medicine, and his colleagues showcased the research happening in their facility thanks to funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Vasquez had the opportunity to view beating heart cells under a microscope and witness electrical signals being recorded from a single beating heart cell. He also learned about the training process for graduate and medical students and how research undertaken in the lab translates to new treatments for those suffering from disease.

“I think this is great way to inform our leaders about what health science research can do to improve our lives,” said Dr, Balijepalli.

Congressional site visits like this one are part of AHA’s ongoing efforts to demonstrate the value of NIH funding throughout the United States. NIH funds research in all 50 states and in most Congressional districts. That funding not only leads to life-saving advances in the prevention and treatment of heart disease and stroke, but supports more than 432,000 jobs across our country. Despite the potentially devastating impact to our nation’s health and economy, NIH faces significant funding cuts in January 2013.

Learn more about the impact of these cuts and join Dr. Balijepalli in speaking up to protect NIH funding.

Every day, heart disease and stroke patients and caregivers must make health care decisions. They may have to choose between two or more options for preventing, diagnosing or treating their conditions. Or, they might need to decide whether or not a treatment is right for them.  For these situations, the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) was created. PCORI funds research to help patients make the best decisions about their health care.

Right now, PCORI is seeking information from patients and caregivers about the health care questions or decisions they may be facing to help the organization shape and refine their research agenda.  Medical professionals and researchers who have questions about improving health care delivery, addressing disparities in health care, or improving the communication of research findings are also invited to participate. 

 Take a few minutes to submit your research questions and become part of PCORI's efforts to change the research process by making the patient's voice central to that work today!

 PCORI is an independent, non-profit organization authorized by Congress.  Learn more at www.pcori.org. 

"Research saves lives" has been the message of the month for August.  With Members of Congress home for their recess break, advocates have been asking their legislators to make protecting National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding a priority when they return to Captiol Hill.  The NIH faces massive funding cuts, also known as the sequester, scheduled for January 2013,which would result in job losses for researchers and critical heart and stroke discoveries being put on hold. 

Dozens of advocates met with their legislators in district offices to share their story about why research matters.  And  across the country, advocates have been delivering the message virtually, with over 7,000 messages sent to Capitol Hill in support of protecting NIH funding in the last several weeks alone. 

Have you sent your message yet?  If not, there is still time!  Here is how you can get involved:

1. Send a quick email to your lawmakers right now in support of protecting funding for the NIH!
2. Use Facebook and Twitter to spread the word about how critical research is to preventing and treating heart disease and stroke. Share this video with friends, family, and lawmakers today!
3. Contact your local AHA advocacy staff partner to learn about ways you can get involved offline, such as sharing your Research Saves Lives story or meeting with your elected officials. 

Have you heard about the massive across-the-broad federal budget cuts, also know as the sequester, that are scheduled for January 2013 if Congress fails to reach another agreement? These cuts could have disastrous effects on medical research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and could delay many important breakthroughs in health research.

In addition to producing life-saving discoveries, NIH research also supports many jobs in our committees, including researchers, lab technicians, support staff and more. To highlight the effect the sequester would have, our friends at United for Medical Research have put together a map that shows the number of jobs each state stands to lose if the budget cuts happen.

Click the map below to see how research would be affected in your state. Don’t like what you see? Go to Research Saves Lives to urge your Members of Congress to protect NIH funding today!

Last month, over 40 heart disease and stroke survivors and researchers arrived on Capitol Hill to urge Members of Congress to protect funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH).  Hear their stories about why medical research matters!  Then help make sure Members of Congress see it by sharing the video link (http://bit.ly/OuL0re) on Facebook and Twitter and tagging your legislators

On June 6th, Joe Quigley and his daughter Olivia came to D.C. to urge their Massachusetts Members of Congress to protect NIH Funding from automatic budget cuts set for January 2013. When Olivia was just 6 years-old, she suffered a sudden cardiac arrest will in gym class and came to Capitol Hill to tell her story. Her and father meetings included one with Senator Scott Brown.

Read their story below.

My name is Joe Quigley. When my daughter, Olivia, was just six years old, she suffered a SCA during gym class at her school in East Boston. Two teachers who were trained in CPR immediately started to work on her. They worked on Olivia until the EMT’s arrived seven minutes later. The EMT’s then used an AED to restart her heart and Olivia was transported to Mass General Hospital Boston and admitted into the ER. Olivia suffered a second SCA that same day and once again CPR and an AED were used to save her life. Olivia was put into a drug induced coma and put on life support for a week. Prior to that day, Olivia had no preexisting heart condition that we were aware of. In fact, just two days before her event; she had been given the all clear by her pediatrician at her annual checkup. During her stay at MGH, Olivia was given numerous tests including viral and genetic testing to try and find a diagnosis. Unfortunately, every test came back negative and we still to this day have no answers. Olivia has an ICD and is on daily medication. She has a heart monitor next to her bed that reads her heart functions and relays that information back to her cardiologist.

Although it is comforting to know that she is getting the correct treatment, not having a diagnosis is still a big worry. Olivia has a 15 year old brother, Alex, and not having a diagnosis for Olivia means that he could also be carrying the same genetic problems. He could just be a time bomb waiting to go off. What would be the chances for his survival? We continue to search for answers. Olivia is currently in a gene pool research investigation being conducted at Children’s Hospital Boston. I wait every day for the phone to ring with an answer to our questions. Research is so important for us to find out these answers. To find out what happened to Olivia, to potentially have answers for Alex and for all the other kids that we don’t know have a heart condition, we need funding for research.

On June 6th, over 40 You’re the Cure Advocates from 17 key states came to Washington to urge their Members of Congress to protect funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) from automatic budget cuts set to occur in January 2013. If the automatic cuts (or sequester) occurs, the NIH could see cuts that total around 8 percent. 

The day started bright and early at a local DC hotel, where advocates and participating staff were welcomed by AHA CEO Nancy Brown and Vice President of Federal Advocacy Sue Nelson. After an impressive group photo, AHA President Dr. Gordon Tomaselli briefed advocates about the funding situation and the damage that the NIH could suffer if the automatic cuts occur.  Stroke survivor Barry Jackson and heart disease survivor Gail Harris-Berry, who are profiled in a complimentary advertisement campaign that is currently running in Capitol Hill newspapers, also shared their personal stories with their fellow advocates, before everyone headed to Capitol Hill for their meetings.

From saving lives to creating jobs, the survivor/researcher pair from each key district were able to give lawmakers their own perspectives on why protecting research funding is critical.   Highlights included 10 year-old Olivia Quigley, accompanied by her father Joe, who shared her story of suffering a sudden cardiac arrest while in gym class with Senator Scott Brown (MA).  And the Hodge Family, including Maddie Hodge who was born with a supraventricular tachycardia and is alive today due to medial research, who met with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid from Nevada.  In total, advocates helped deliver the "research saves lives" message to 62 congressional offices!   

Check out the You’re the Cure Facebook page for continual updates and photos of the event!

NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins brought a serious message recently on the Comedy Central’s Colbert Report a few days ago. Dr. Francis talked about the importance of eating well and the state of America’s obesity epidemic.

Have a few laughs and check out the video.

On January 21st, Senator Mark Kirk from Illinois had a stroke at the age of 52. Only 15 weeks later, his recovery has been described as “excellent” by his doctor in an article in the Chicago Tribune. Sen. Kirk’s ongoing recovery shows how important medical research is to stroke recovery.

Sen. Kirk also penned a letter-to-the- editor describing his stroke and recovery.

“Early detection is key to survival,” said Kirk. “My staff and I are working on a legislative package to help with early detection and prevention programs.”

Check out his amazing video below, go the full story , and read Sen. Kirk’s letter in the Chicago Tribune.

AHA President, Dr. Gordon F. Tomaselli, recently wrote an article in Science Progressabout the dangers of the pending budget cuts to the National Institutes of Health in 2013.

“Next January, unless Congress and the White House take action, the National Institutes of Health, or NIH, and the critical medical research it supports will face an uncertain future. Under current law, most domestic spending, including every NIH institute and center, will be subject to a mandatory cut of at least 7.8 percent.

The cuts—which will go into effect January 2—are the result of the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction’s failure to come up with a plan that would reduce the deficit by $1.2 trillion over the next decade. The debt limit deal, which created the committee, established a backup “sequestration” procedure as a mechanism to encourage compromise. Sequestration is a form of automatic budget cuts that are applied across the board.

Military programs are also on the chopping block, and the defense establishment has made it clear that it will fight these cuts to the bitter end. Supporters of domestic programs, however, have been silent. Thankfully, advocates for the NIH refuse to remain quiet and complacent. We believe there is simply too much at stake.” Read the full article…

Join Dr. Tomaselli in urging Congress to protect NIH research funding today!

On March 14, American Heart Association CEO Nancy Brown joined leaders in government, industry, the media and other patient advocacy organizations for Research!America’s 9th annual National Health Research Forum in Washington, D.C.

The event, “World Class to Second Class? Confronting the Risks to U.S. Science and Innovation,” generated discussions on key medical, health and scientific research topics concerning all Americans. The event was moderated by Richard Besser, M.D., chief health and medical editor for ABC News. Panelists, including Brown, engaged with audience members on the significance of health and medical research to our nation’s economy and global competitiveness, and the roles of non-profit, public and private sectors in advancing health research.

Brown emphasized the power of working together with other health groups to share messages about the common components between conditions. She also touched on the association’s effort to advocate for more research advances to improve our nation’s health.

“We need to change our mindset now, and develop a new appreciation for research. In the aggregate, research is a sure thing, because in the aggregate, research has always increased our knowledge, and thus has improved our lives,” said Brown.

You can view discussion highlights and access transcripts by visiting: www.researchamerica.org/forums

Three You’re the Cure advocates were recently highlighted in two ABC News spots talking about a recent study that showed younger women who have heart attacks do not always experience chest pain during the event and the attack can be more deadly as a result.

Gail Harris-Berry was profiled on a story that aired on ABC News with Diane Sawyer, where she was turned down by multiple hospitals because she didn’t show the “classic” heart attack symptons.

Tami Kimet told her story to ABCNEWS.com, where she went to the hospital to get relief from what she thought was the flu but instead received life-saving surgery due to a heart attack. In the same article, Dr. Malissa Wood explains how younger women tend not to recognize the signs of a heart attack, but the effects of one can be devastating.

Both Gail and Dr. Wood will be attending the White House Community Leaders Briefing on Cardiovascular Health this Friday, where they will share their stories and experiences with top Obama Administration officials.

Check out Gail Harris-Berry’s story and click here to see Tami’s story and Dr. Wood’s advice on how to recognize the signs of a heart attack in younger women.

On February 24^th, 70 American Heart Association volunteers will be coming to Washington, DC to attend the White House Community Leaders Briefing on Cardiovascular Health. This special event brings Administration officials together with heart disease and stroke survivors and caregivers, medical professionals, researchers, and community health advocates.

In addition to sharing their own personal stories and professional expertise, attendees will have the opportunity to hear about legislation, regulations, and initiatives the Administration has supported and is implementing to help improve cardiovascular health. The range of topics includes:

• The Million Hearts initiative;
• Access to affordable, quality cardiovascular care;
• National Institutes of Health research;
• Efforts to reduce health disparities in women and minorities;
• Nutrition policy;
• Clean air policy;
• Promoting physical activity through policy and the built environment
• Tobacco control policy

You can be in the loop during this important event too! Check out the ways to engage with the American Heart Association, your fellow advocates, and the White House:

1. Watch the event LIVE! From 9:00 am-12:00 pm EST, the White House will be live streaming the event at www.whitehouse.gov/live. Tune in to hear from top administration officials about the legislation, regulations, and initiatives being pursued to help fight heart disease and stroke. White House Director of Public Engagement Jon Carson will take live questions during a Tweet-Up from 3:30-4:15 pm EST. Follow him at @JonCarson44 and use the hashtag #HeartAtTheWH to join the discussion!
2. Follow live event highlights on Twitter and Facebook! We’ll be posting updates, pictures, and videos throughout the day. Join us by sharing, re-tweeting, commenting, and posting. Don’t forget to use the event’s official hashtag- #HeartAtTheWH- to join in the conversation.
3. Help us deliver our message to the White House! You can ask questions about the heart disease and stroke issues above and share your story with the White House through social media. Post to the White House Facebook page or direct your tweets to @WhiteHouse.
4. Get the scoop from those who were there! Visit the You’re the Cure blog and the White House blog in the days following the event for event recaps and observations from your fellow advocates who attended.

Today marks the beginning of Congenital Heart Defects Awareness Week—a great time to draw attention to a non-invasive screening test that helps identify newborns at risk for heart defects and potentially saves their lives. The test, pulse oximetry, or pulse ox, consists of sensors placed on a baby’s hand and foot to check blood oxygen levels. If their levels are too low, additional tests are conducted to detect critical or possibly life-threatening heart defects that might otherwise be missed. With congenital heart defects considered to be the leading cause of birth-defect related deaths in the U.S., new research suggests wider use of pulse ox screening could help identify more than 90 percent of heart defects.

U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius has suggested that critical congenital heart defects screening be added to the “Recommended Uniform Screening Panel” for newborns before they are released from a hospital or birthing facility. To achieve this goal, association staff and volunteers are working in states across the country to enact pulse ox screening policies that will allow babies with heart defects to live longer and fuller lives. Thanks to the work of association advocates and key stakeholders, New Jersey, Maryland and Indiana have all recently passed laws requiring newborns to have pulse ox screenings prior to being discharged from the hospital. In New Jersey, just hours after their law took effect, a newborn’s life was saved.

The American Heart Association will continue its efforts to educate key decision makers and the public about the critical role pulse ox screening plays in improving early diagnosis for newborns. We will also work to increase funding for support and educational services, enhance scientific research in this area, and expand access to quality care for the nation’s children

To learn more about congenital heart defects and pulse ox screening policies in your state, visit You’re the Cure today!

American Heart Association CEO Nancy Brown gave the keynote address at the annual eHealth Initiative’s (eHI) 2012 Annual Conference, held January 11-12 in Washington, D.C. Her speech examined the positive impact of technology on cardiovascular health and stroke care and how the AHA is involved.

“I’m proud …that the American Heart Association and its scientific volunteers have played a key role in a wide range of eHealth advances…” said Brown.

Specifically, Brown spoke about the American Heart Association’s initiatives, such as Get With the Guidelines and other programs that aim and improve patient care.

“At the American Heart Association, we’ve seen how the technological component of initiatives like Get With The Guidelines is making a significant and documentable difference in the quality of care and patient outcomes. Around the world, others who’ve embraced technology are experiencing similar results. The bottom line is better patient care and better outcomes,” said Brown.

Brown also spoke about the importance of telemedicine in stroke care and the up-and-coming use of Telestroke Centers in rural and remote locations.

The eHealth Initiative is an independent, non-profit organization whose mission is to drive improvements in the quality, safety and efficiency of healthcare through information and information technology. Other notable speakers at this year’s conference included Carolyn Clancy, M.D., director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Jack C. Lewin, M.D., chief executive officer of the American College of Cardiology and Len Lichtenfeld, M.D., M.A.C.P., chief medical officer of the American Cancer Society.

Check out this video below from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that recaps 2011. In this video, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius speaks about the Million Hearts Campaign, which the American Heart Association is a proud member. The Campaign aims to prevent one million heart attacks and strokes over the next five years.

Click to see the video!

Despite this era of deficit reduction, thanks to your help, Congress continues to see the value of the National Institutes of Health, our best hope to prevent and even cure heart disease and stroke, by providing it with a 0.8% funding increase over its last year’s funding level. Although the increase is smaller than we had worked for, our health, economy and ability to compete globally will still benefit from this enhanced support. The AHA will continue to advocate that Congress make NIH-funded research a top priority because it is an investment that will advance our mission and improve our economy by creating jobs in every state.

The failure of the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction to come up with a plan to reduce $1.2 trillion from the national deficit means that automatic across-the-board spending cuts will go into effect in 2013 to achieve these savings required by the Budget Control Act of 2011. This means that nearly every federal program, including the NIH, will be cut by more than 9% in just one year. A cut of this magnitude will have a devastating effect on the NIH, reducing their budget to its 2004 funding level and jeopardizing heart and stroke research and our country’s status as the world leader in biomedical research. Under this scenario, the NIH budget would be slashed by nearly $3 billion. In addition, the budget caps imposed in the 2011 Budget Control Act for FY 2013, which freeze overall discretionary spending, could result in even deeper cuts for the NIH. The AHA has been working with our coalitions to garner support to attempt to protect the NIH from this across-the-board cut. The AHA will need your help now more now than ever as we try to exempt the NIH from these reductions. Please watch your e-mail in boxes for action alerts.

Learn more about the other programs the AHA advocated for through the appropriations process:

• CDC Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Programs
• HRSA’s Rural and Community AED Program