WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Lois Capps’ legislation to address heart disease in women and to help Americans who suffer from extreme pain passed the House Energy and Commerce Committee today.   Both bills could see action on the House floor as early as next week. 

“I am very pleased I could get these two important bills through the committee today,” said Capps, a registered nurse.  “These measures would help millions of Americans suffering from these extremely serious health conditions.  I hope we can get both bills on the President’s desk for signature soon.”

Capps introduced the Heart disease Education, Research and Analysis, and Treatment (HEART) for Women Act in early 2007, with her colleague Barbara Cubin (R-WY).  Companion legislation was also introduced by Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK).  The measure authorizes grants to educate doctors about the unique aspects of preventing, diagnosing and treating women with heart disease.  It also requires that health information already being reported to the Food and Drug Administration be stratified by sex, race and ethnicity.  Finally, the HEART for Women Act expands a current program run by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention called WISEWOMAN, which provides free cardiovascular disease screenings to low-income women.  Expanding this program beyond the 20 states where it currently exists will give even more women the number one tool in fighting any disease: early detection.

"Heart disease is still the number one killer of women," said Capps.  "Unfortunately not enough people recognize it poses such a serious threat to women's health and far too many women pay a terrible price for that lack of knowledge.  This legislation addresses this critical knowledge gap by ensuring that health care professionals are informed about the risks of cardiovascular disease in women, know how this disease affects women differently than men, and are better equipped to diagnose heart disease in women.  By providing access to high‑quality screenings for heart disease and stroke we can help women across the country secure an early diagnosis of the disease and receive effective treatment."

“The House has recognized that much more needs be done to address disparities in treatment and prevention for women with cardiovascular disease,” said Timothy J. Gardner, M.D, of the American Heart Association.  “Today’s mark-up is a critical move towards closing this gap by ensuring that this silent killer is more widely recognized and effectively treated in women.  Congress has the power to help put women on equal footing with men in the fight against this devastating disease.”

 "As a woman with heart disease, and a national spokesperson for WomenHeart, I am very pleased about the passing of the HEART for Women Act,” said Evan McCabe, RN, MN, and Associate Professor at Santa Barbara City College.  “This legislation is critical to raising awareness about the #1 killer of women.  As a cardiac nurse for the last 30 years, I am fully aware of the gender bias against women with heart disease, and this act will increase data necessary to identify our unique differences and eliminate disparities in detection, diagnosis and treatment.  I am delighted that this bill expands the very successful WISEWOMAN screening and education program to low-income women at risk for heart disease in every state.”

Capps introduced The National Pain Care Policy Act with Rep. Mike Rogers (R-MI) in 2007.  The bill would combat pain in four ways: by authorizing an Institute of Medicine Conference on Pain Care; improving the coordination of pain research at the National Institutes of Health; providing comprehensive pain care education and training for health care professionals; and by instituting a public awareness campaign on pain management. 

Over one hundred leading organizations representing the pain care community have joined Congresswoman Capps and Congressman Rogers in support of this legislation, including the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, the American Pain Foundation and a coalition of leading professional organizations in the pain field.

"Pain is the leading cause of disability in the United States and is straining our health care system,” said Capps.  “Fortunately we don’t have to remain debilitated by pain.  This legislation takes several important steps to improve the assessment, understanding, and treatment of pain by encouraging coordination of research and sharing of best practices across medical disciplines.”

“As a practicing physician who treats pain patients in Congresswoman’s Capps’ district, I am extremely pleased and proud to see her advocating for this important legislation that will advance the cause of treating pain in the United States and help millions of suffering Americans,” said Michael Bordofsky, M.D., Hospice Medical Director, Visiting Nurse and Hospice Care of Santa Barbara.

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Pictured above: (center) Congresswoman Capps meets with Central Coast firefighters to discuss emergency preparedness.