Political Quotes

“Today, with Congressman Joe Wilson of South Carolina, I am introducing bipartisan legislation to raise awareness regarding the alarming rate at which the South Asian community is developing heart disease and to invest in ways to reverse the trend. Coming from countries including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal, South Asians are the sixth largest and fastest growing ethnic group in the Nation. Despite a traditional diet that is high in lentils, vegetables, grains, and spices, heart disease is on the rise in these communities. A Stanford study has found that South Asians have a four times greater risk of developing heart disease than the general population and have a much greater risk of having a heart attack before the age of 50. Coupled with the prevalence of diabetes in the South Asian community, something needs to be done. That is why we are introducing the South Asian Heart Health Awareness and Research Act. Specifically, our bill will create grants at the CDC, NIH, and USDA to fund heart health research and promotion among South Asian populations. We hope, through doing this, that we can help save lives, develop tools, and support valuable research that can broadly benefit the American public. ____________________”