Legislature(2011 - 2012)
01/31/2012 03:00 PM Senate HSS
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HCR20 | |
| Presentation: Alzheimer's Resource of Alaska | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HCR 20-AMERICAN HEART MONTH
3:07:03 PM
CHAIR KELLER announced that the first order of business would be
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 20, Designating February 2012 as
American Heart Month.
3:07:19 PM
REPRESENTATIVE PEGGY WILSON, Alaska State Legislature, prime
sponsor of HCR 20, paraphrased from her sponsor statement:
HCR 20 raises awareness of the nation's leading cause
of death, cardiovascular disease, by having the State
of Alaska join the American Heart Association in
celebrating February 2012 as American Heart Month.
This unfortunate disease causes an average of one
American death every 39 seconds or nearly 2,200 deaths
each day. It is the costliest disease in the nation,
with direct and indirect costs estimated to be
$297,700,000 a year. Research shows that there are
clear preventative and community based strategies that
can increase survival rates from this disease. The
American Heart Association's 2020 impact goal seeks to
improve cardiovascular health of all Americans by 20
percent while reducing deaths from cardiovascular
disease and stroke by 20 percent through research,
population-level and community-level interventions,
and public health and policy measures. The passage of
this resolution would join Alaska and the American
Heart Association in raising awareness of this disease
by celebrating February 2012 as "American Heart Month"
and promoting education and awareness by encouraging
citizens to learn the warning signs of heart attack
and stroke.
3:09:39 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MILLER asked if HCR 20 was intended to only be
designated for this year.
3:09:56 PM
REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON, in response, said that, currently, it
was just for this year, but that she would like to see it become
permanent.
REPRESENTATIVE MILLER expressed his agreement, and asked if HCR
20 included any planned programs for exercise, diet, and
smoking.
REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON replied that a representative from the
American Heart Association would answer that question.
3:10:49 PM
REPRESENTATIVE HERRON offered his belief that annual
introduction of the resolution "keeps it on the forefront."
3:11:44 PM
CHAIR KELLER opened public testimony.
3:12:03 PM
JAMIE MORGAN, Senior Government Relations Director, American
Heart Association (AHA), Western States Affiliate, expressed her
appreciation to the House Health and Social Services Standing
Committee for its support of HCR 20. In response to an earlier
question by Representative Miller, she said that AHA had many
educational programs in the community, as well as other
available resources and materials posted on its website. She
urged support for HCR 20.
3:13:07 PM
BOB URATA, MD, Family Physician, American Heart Association
Volunteer, stated that he supported HCR 20. He confirmed that
heart disease and stroke were a major cause of death and
disability. He pointed out that many of the deaths from
cardiovascular disease could be prevented by avoiding key risk
factors and treating those which were abnormal. He stated that
"maintaining a healthy weight, blood pressure, cholesterol,
sugar, and not smoking are key risk factors that can lead to a
longer life." He referenced the National Institute of Health
(NIH), stating that 1.6 million lives had been saved since 1977
with an estimated 44 percent due to a reduction of risk factors.
He reported that overweight and obesity was the new threat, as
27 percent of high school students were overweight or obese.
"This will lead to an increase in high blood pressure, diabetes,
and heart disease." He noted that although there was an
increased awareness for the signs of heart attack, only 27
percent knew to call 911. He emphasized that "increasing
awareness of risk factors and emergency care is a first step in
reducing the risk of death and disability from this disease."
He offered his support for passage of HCR 20.
3:15:37 PM
REPRESENTATIVE HERRON reflected that the statistics were
sobering. He pointed out that food manufacturers created
complex formulas to make food taste better, though not
necessarily healthier, and asked if AHA was attempting to combat
this.
3:16:40 PM
DR. URATA replied that AHA scientists maintained a nutrition
vigil.
3:17:07 PM
MS. MORGAN, acknowledging the issue, stated that AHA had not yet
taken a position. She offered to update the committee as more
information became available.
3:17:43 PM
REPRESENTATIVE HERRON opined that although everyone liked food
that tasted good, he questioned whether it was healthy for
companies to create compounds to enhance flavor solely in order
to get people to eat more of that food.
3:18:15 PM
DR. URATA, reflecting on the elimination of salt from his diet
in order to combat rising blood pressure, suggested that his
taste buds had adjusted to this change and that, after time,
salty foods began to taste bitter.
3:19:27 PM
JIM FOSTER, Paramedic, stated that having a month dedicated to
cardiovascular disease allowed the opportunity to bring
awareness to the epidemic problem. He reported that although
this was the number one cause of death in America, it was not a
"media event" so it was not recognized.
3:20:49 PM
CHAIR KELLER closed public testimony.
3:21:04 PM
REPRESENTATIVE HERRON moved to report HCR 20 out of committee
with individual recommendations and the accompanying zero fiscal
notes. There being no objection, HCR 20 was reported from the
House Health and Social Services Standing Committee.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|