Reps. Cammack, Cherfilus-McCormick Introduce Resolution Designating National Cholesterol Education Month & LDL-C Awareness Day

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Kat Cammack (R-FL-03) and Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) and introduced a House resolution that designates September 2023 as “National Cholesterol Education Month," and September 30, 2023, as “LDL-C Awareness Day.”

“I’m glad to partner with my fellow Florida colleague Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick on this resolution to designate September 2023 as National Cholesterol Education Month,” said Rep. Kat Cammack. “As a co-chair of the Bipartisan Women’s Caucus, much of our work focuses on issues that affect women, especially related to health care. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for women in the U.S. and it’s been one of our top projects over the last several years to ensure women are equipped to best care for themselves and their families. Learning more about cholesterol and its effects on heart health can help to raise awareness and encourage women to be screened and treated.”

“With cardiovascular disease on the rise, heart health awareness can go a long way in saving lives,” said Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick. “Greater education is needed to address this public health crisis head-on and address inequities that can be starkly seen among underserved populations and communities of color. I am proud to introduce this bipartisan resolution so that cardiovascular disease prevention never falls by the wayside and this disease is treated with the sense of urgency it deserves.”

Cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of death for men and women worldwide. It affects about half of the American population, with disparities seen most acutely among those from racial and ethnic minority groups.

One of the risk factors contributing to cardiovascular disease and poor health is elevated levels of the "bad" cholesterol low density lipoprotein (LDL-C). High levels of lipoprotein (a) cholesterol, hypertension, obesity, a lack of awareness of one's own risk factors, genetics, location, and unequal access to health care are also risk factors for cardiovascular disease and poor health outcomes. High LDL-C affects more than 25.5% of the U.S. adult population.

“We applaud Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Rep. Kat Cammack and their colleagues for bringing attention to America’s cholesterol crisis. Heart disease remains the #1 killer in America, and Black Americans are 30% more likely to die from heart disease compared to white Americans. A National Cholesterol Education Month is necessary to educate underserved populations about cholesterol and encourage screenings to prevent avoidable deaths,” said Ryan Gough, Executive Director of the Partnership to Advance Cardiovascular Health.

The resolution is endorsed by the Alliance for Aging Research, the Alliance for Women’s Health and Prevention, the American Heart Association, the American Medical Women’s Association, the Association of Black Cardiologists, BLKHLTH, the Family Heart Foundation, Mended Hearts, the National Center and Caucus on Black Aging, National Grange, the National Hispanic Council on Aging, the National Hispanic Medical Association, the National Rural Health Association, the Partnership to Advance Cardiovascular Health, and the Society for Women’s Health Research.

The full text of the resolution can be found here.

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