02-06-2025

American Heart Month, 2025

ProclamationView the Original .pdf
View the Original .pdf

The 1-Minute Brief

What: A presidential proclamation designating February 2025 as American Heart Month to raise awareness about heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States.

Money: The proclamation itself does not appropriate funds. However, heart disease costs the U.S. billions annually. From 2020 to 2021, the estimated cost was about $417.9 billion, which includes healthcare services, medications, and lost productivity.

Your Impact: This proclamation encourages Americans to adopt healthier habits, such as improving diet and increasing exercise, to reduce the risk of heart disease. It also calls for participation in National Wear Red Day on February 7, 2025, to show support for heart disease awareness.

Status: Signed and issued by the President on February 3, 2025. This is an annual proclamation.

What's Actually in the Bill

This presidential proclamation officially designates February 2025 as American Heart Month. It mourns the lives lost to cardiovascular disease and commits to fighting the epidemic. The document highlights the significant impact of heart disease as the nation's leading killer and encourages citizens to take preventative measures. It also signals the administration's intent to address healthcare costs and investigate the rising prevalence of chronic childhood diseases.

Core Provisions:

  • Designates February 2025 as American Heart Month.
  • Invites all Americans to participate in National Wear Red Day on February 7, 2025.
  • Urges Americans to address risk factors such as obesity, high blood pressure, lack of exercise, excessive alcohol use, and smoking.
  • Pledges to investigate the causes behind increases in chronic health issues like obesity, autoimmune disorders, infertility, and autism.

Stated Purpose (from the Sponsors):

  1. To honor those affected by heart disease and recommit to ending its deadly impact.
  2. To encourage Americans to adopt healthier lifestyles and make small adjustments that can lead to life-saving results.
  3. To foster a culture and government that protect life and health.
  4. To fulfill the request of Congress, as per a 1963 joint resolution, to issue an annual proclamation for American Heart Month.

Key Facts:

Affected Sectors: Healthcare, Public Health.
Timeline: February 2025.
Scope: Nationwide, affecting all American citizens.

The Backstory: How We Got Here

Timeline of Events:

The Mid-20th Century Epidemic (1950s-1960s):

Following World War II, heart disease rates in the United States climbed, becoming the nation's leading cause of death by 1950. This alarming trend prompted action from the medical community and the government. In 1963, Congress passed a joint resolution (Public Law 88-254) requesting the President to designate February as "American Heart Month" to raise public awareness. President Lyndon B. Johnson, himself a heart attack survivor, issued the first such proclamation in 1964.

A Decades-Long Public Health Campaign (1970s-Present):

Since the first American Heart Month, public health organizations like the American Heart Association, in partnership with the federal government, have led a sustained effort to educate the public. This campaign has focused on the links between lifestyle factors (like smoking, diet, and exercise) and cardiovascular health. Landmark reports, such as the 1964 Surgeon General's Report linking smoking to heart disease, provided crucial momentum. While death rates from heart disease have declined significantly since their peak, the disease remains the number one killer in the U.S.

Why Now? The Political Calculus:

  • An Enduring Crisis: Heart disease remains a persistent public health crisis. In 2022, cardiovascular disease was responsible for over 941,000 deaths in the U.S. It affects people of all backgrounds and is a leading driver of healthcare costs. The annual proclamation serves as a consistent reminder of this ongoing issue.
  • Political Continuity: Issuing this proclamation is a long-standing presidential tradition since 1964, demonstrating a continued bipartisan commitment to public health.
  • Focus on Prevention: The proclamation's emphasis on lifestyle changes aligns with a broader healthcare trend of focusing on preventative care to lower long-term costs and improve quality of life. The text also touches on contemporary concerns by vowing to investigate rising rates of various childhood diseases.

Your Real-World Impact

The Direct Answer: This proclamation directly affects all Americans by encouraging personal health assessments and preventative actions against a disease that kills one person every 34 seconds.

What Could Change for You:

Potential Benefits:

  • Increased Awareness: You may see more public service announcements, news stories, and community events related to heart health, prompting you to consider your own cardiovascular risks.
  • Healthier Choices: The national focus might encourage you or your family to adopt healthier habits, such as improving your diet, quitting smoking, or starting an exercise routine.
  • Community Support: Events like National Wear Red Day foster a sense of collective action and support for those affected by heart disease.

Possible Disruptions or Costs:

Short-term (February 2025):

  • There are no direct costs or disruptions associated with this proclamation. Participation in awareness events is voluntary.

Long-term:

  • The administration's stated goal to investigate the root causes of chronic diseases could potentially lead to future regulations or public health policies, but the proclamation itself does not enact any such changes.

Who's Most Affected:

Primary Groups: Individuals with or at high risk for cardiovascular disease, including those with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, and diabetes. Also, the elderly and people with a family history of heart disease.
Secondary Groups: Healthcare providers, public health officials, and medical researchers who receive a platform to amplify their work and messaging.
Regional Impact: Southern states like Oklahoma, Mississippi, and Alabama have some of the highest heart disease mortality rates and may see more targeted awareness campaigns.

Bottom Line: This proclamation is a call to action for you to be proactive about your heart health and supports a national conversation about preventing the country's deadliest disease.

Where the Parties Stand

Republican Position: "Increase Transparency, Choice, and Competition"

Core Stance: The 2024 Republican platform emphasizes lowering healthcare costs and increasing patient choice through market-based solutions.

Their Arguments:

  • ✓ Support for Prevention: Generally supports public health initiatives that encourage personal responsibility and preventative health measures.
  • ✓ Protecting Medicare: The platform vows not to cut Medicare and to ensure its long-term stability, which is critical for many heart disease patients.
  • ⚠️ Skepticism of "Big Pharma": The proclamation's promise to crack down on "Big Pharma" aligns with a populist sentiment present in the party, although specific policy approaches may differ.
  • ✗ No Mention of ACA: Unlike previous platforms, the 2024 platform does not call for the repeal of the Affordable Care Act, but it also does not embrace its framework.

Legislative Strategy: The party's strategy generally focuses on market-based reforms, such as price transparency and expanding health savings accounts, rather than expanding government-run programs.

Democratic Position: "Health Care is a Right"

Core Stance: The 2024 Democratic platform frames healthcare as a right and advocates for strengthening and expanding the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

Their Arguments:

  • ✓ Strengthening the ACA: Democrats champion policies that have expanded health insurance coverage, which is vital for managing chronic conditions like heart disease.
  • ✓ Lowering Healthcare Costs: Supports government negotiation of prescription drug prices and capping out-of-pocket costs for seniors on Medicare, directly impacting heart patients.
  • ✓ Expanding Medicaid: The party advocates for expanding Medicaid in states that have not yet done so, increasing access to care for low-income populations who are at high risk for heart disease.
  • ⚠️ Public Option: While a "public option" was a key part of the 2020 platform, it is less prominent in 2024, indicating a shift in focus to building upon the existing ACA structure.

Legislative Strategy: The party aims to make ACA subsidies permanent, expand coverage, and continue to empower the government to negotiate drug prices to reduce costs for consumers.

Constitutional Check

The Verdict: ✓ Constitutional

Basis of Authority:

The authority for this proclamation is not directly enumerated in the Constitution for this specific purpose but is based on the President's role as head of state and supported by a specific act of Congress. It is also implied under the President's executive powers in Article II.

Public Law 88-254 (36 U.S.C. 101): "The President of the United States is authorized and requested to issue annually a proclamation (1) designating February as American Heart Month, (2) inviting the Governors of the States...and (3) urging the people of the United States to give heed to the nationwide problem of the heart and blood vessel diseases..."

Constitutional Implications:

[Executive Power]: Presidential proclamations are a recognized tool of the executive branch. While many are ceremonial, they can have the force of law if based on a constitutional or statutory grant of authority.
[Precedent]: Every president since Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964 has issued a proclamation for American Heart Month, establishing a long and unbroken precedent.
[Federalism]: This proclamation does not overstep into powers reserved for the states. It encourages and invites action from governors and citizens but does not mandate it, respecting the federal structure of government.

Potential Legal Challenges:

There are no credible legal challenges to this proclamation. It is a ceremonial and hortatory document issued at the express request of Congress and falls well within the traditional scope of presidential authority.

Your Action Options

TO SUPPORT THIS BILL'S GOALS

5-Minute Actions:

  • Call Your Rep/Senators: Capitol Switchboard: (202) 224-3121 "I'm a constituent from [Your City/Town] and I support efforts to fund heart disease research and promote public health education. Please support robust funding for the NIH and CDC."
  • Wear Red on February 7th: Participate in National Wear Red Day to show solidarity and raise awareness in your community.

30-Minute Deep Dive:

  • Get a Health Screening: Schedule an appointment with your doctor to check your blood pressure, cholesterol, and other heart health indicators.
  • Join an Organization: The American Heart Association (heart.org) offers extensive resources, volunteer opportunities, and advocacy tools.

TO OPPOSE THIS BILL

Given that this is a non-controversial, ceremonial proclamation requested by a prior act of Congress, direct opposition is uncommon. Opposition would more likely be directed at specific health policies mentioned or the general policy direction of the administration rather than the proclamation itself.

5-Minute Actions:

  • Call Your Rep/Senators: Capitol Switchboard: (202) 224-3121 "I'm a constituent from [Your City/Town]. I am concerned about [mention specific policy like healthcare costs or government spending] and urge [Rep./Sen. Name] to focus on [your preferred solution]."

30-Minute Deep Dive:

  • Write a Letter to the Editor: If you disagree with the administration's broader health agenda as stated in the proclamation, write to your local newspaper outlining your specific concerns and alternative policy suggestions.
  • Join an Organization: Advocacy groups focusing on specific healthcare reform models (e.g., free-market think tanks or single-payer advocates) offer platforms to oppose the administration's stated health policies.