House Resolution 619
By: Representatives Bennett of the 94th, Hugley of the 141st, Bazemore of the 69th, Carter of
the 93rd, Alexander of the 66th, and others
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing April 2025 as Minority Health Month to encourage cholesterol screening; and
for other purposes.
WHEREAS, high cholesterol, also called hypercholesterolemia, is the chronic presence of
high levels of cholesterol in the blood that can lead to cardiovascular disease, and even
cardiovascular events like heart attacks or strokes; and
WHEREAS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that
cardiovascular disease is arguably the most underappreciated public health crisis of our time,
and someone in the United States has a heart attack every 40 seconds, yet about 80 percent
are preventable; and
WHEREAS, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), or "bad" cholesterol, is an easily
modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease, more than 80 million adults have high
LDL-C, and lower LDL-C is associated with a reduced risk of heart attack and stroke; and
WHEREAS, heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States among racial and
ethnic minority populations; and
WHEREAS, cardiovascular disease accounts for more than 22,000 deaths in Georgia a year,
which is one in three deaths overall; and
WHEREAS, in 2019, African Americans were 30 percent more likely to die from heart
disease than non-Hispanic whites, and although African American adults are 30 percent more
likely to have high blood pressure, they are less likely than non-Hispanic whites to have their
blood pressure under control; and
WHEREAS, African American women are nearly 50 percent more likely to have high blood
pressure, as compared to non-Hispanic white women; and
WHEREAS, the American Heart Association (AHA) has demonstrated that Hispanic
Americans are at exceptionally high risk for cardiovascular disease and coronary heart
disease, both of which can lead to a stroke or heart attack; and
WHEREAS, the AHA indicates that cardiovascular disease disproportionately affects
minority populations: 52.3 percent of Hispanic males and 42.7 percent of Hispanic females
over the age of 20 are affected by cardiovascular disease and 60.1 percent of Black males and
58.8 percent of Black females 20 years of age and older have cardiovascular disease; and
WHEREAS, the CDC found that one in three deaths in the United States is due to heart
disease and this results in more than $216 billion in healthcare cost; and
WHEREAS, nearly 60 percent of middle-aged Hispanic adults have high cholesterol, yet
only half are aware of this, according to a study published in the Journal of the American
Medical Association; and
WHEREAS, a study published in the American Journal of Preventative Cardiology found
cholesterol testing, an important preventive measure for reducing the risk of cardiovascular
disease, declined during the COVID-19 pandemic; and
WHEREAS, the resources needed to bend the curve in cardiovascular disease exist, yet 71
percent of hypercholesterolemia patients at high risk of a cardiovascular event never achieve
recommended LDL-C treatment guideline thresholds; and
WHEREAS, the LDL-C Action Summit, a consortium of the nation's leading cardiovascular
stakeholder groups, seeks to cut cardiovascular events in half by 2030; and
WHEREAS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Million Hearts program seeks
to improve access and quality of care to reduce heart disease, stroke, and death; and
WHEREAS, all are encouraged to know their LDL-C level; and
WHEREAS, the United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority
Health recognizes April as National Minority Health Month; and
WHEREAS, the Georgia Department of Health is urged to update the state's cardiovascular
plan to accelerate quality improvements and measures to achieve improved health outcomes
for cardiovascular disease patients and develop campaigns to increase cholesterol screening
during the month of April; and
WHEREAS, providers are urged to treat all cardiovascular disease patients in accordance
with American College of Cardiology treatment guidelines.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that
the members of this body recognize April 2025 as Minority Health Month to encourage
cholesterol screening.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized
and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the
public and the press.