The South Asian Heart Health Awareness and Research Act of 2020 (H.R. 3131), one of ACC's top legislative priorities over the past several years, passed out of the full Energy and Commerce Committee this week and now moves to the House of Representatives for a floor vote.

South Asians represent approximately 25% of the world's population – yet they account for 60% of the world's cardiovascular disease patients. Introduced by Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), the bipartisan piece of legislation would create Centers for Disease Control and Prevention grants to states for awareness initiatives, educational materials and research catalogs targeted at the South Asian community. The bill would also authorize the National Institutes of Health to conduct or support heart health research among the South Asian population.

Efforts to promote the legislation began during ACC's 2017 Legislative Conference when Health Affairs Committee member and Grassroots Award recipient, Sandeep Krishnan, MD, FACC, formed a connection over the issue with Rep. Jayapal. This relationship developed into a series of practice visits and culminated with a briefing on Capitol Hill in April 2018, featuring ACC member Jill M Steiner, MD, FACC, as a panelist. ACC members also advocated for the bill on Capitol Hill as part of the last two Legislative Conferences.

Clinical Topics: Cardiovascular Care Team

Keywords: ACC Advocacy, Healthcare Disparities, National Institutes of Health (U.S.), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.

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