Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 99 Part 1.djvu/808

 99 STAT. 786

PUBLIC LAW 99-149—NOV. 12, 1985 Public Law 99-149 99th Congress

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Joint Resolution Nov. 12, 1985 [S.J. Res. 130]

Designating the week beginning on November 10, 1985, as "National Blood Pressure Awareness Week"

Whereas diseases resulting from hypertension cause needless mortality and morbidity which can be reduced if hypertension is discovered through blood pressure screening; Whereas sixty million Americans are hypertensive; Whereas hypertension is a major factor in five hundred thousand strokes and one hundred and seventy-five thousand stroke-related deaths annually as well as more than one million five hundred thousand heart attacks and five hundred and sixty-seven thousand heart attack-related deaths annually; Whereas the prevalence of hypertension in black males is 33 per centum higher than in white males, and the prevalence of hypertension in black females is twice that of their white counterparts; Whereas twenty-nine million workdays, representing $2,000,000,000 in earnings, are lost each year because of cardiovascular diseases; Whereas the risk of the major cardiovascular diseases is directly related to hypertension and even mild elevation in blood pressure may result in substantial risk of illness; Whereas much of the 30 per centum reduction in mortality between 1970 and 1980 for stroke, hypertension heart disease and other cardiovascular system disease can be partially attributed to increased awareness and better control of blood pressure; and Whereas increased blood pressure screening will identify greater numbers of Americans at risk for hypertension-related cardiovascular disease and encourage these Americans to seek treatment to control their blood pressure: Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the week beginning on November 10, 1985, is hereby designated as "National Blood Pressure Awareness Week", and the President is authorized and requested to issue a proclamation calling upon the people of the United States to observe such week with appropriate ceremonies and activities. Approved November 12, 1985.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S.J. Res. 130: CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 131 (1985): Nov. 4, considered and passed Senate. Nov. 6, considered and passed House.

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