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.