Beatty's Bipartisan Bills Move From Awareness to Action, Offering Help to Stroke Survivors

WASHINGTON, DC –  To commemorate National Stroke Awareness Month, Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (OH-03) - a stroke survivor and co-chair of the Congressional Heart and Stroke Coalition - has reintroduced two bipartisan bills to raise awareness about strokes and support stroke survivors in returning to work. The first bill, introduced with Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) would officially recognize May as Stroke Awareness Month. The second bill, the Return to Work Awareness Act, was introduced with Beatty’s House Republican Heart and Stroke Coalition co-chair Rep. Christopher Smith (NJ-04) and would improve the resources and accommodations available to help stroke survivors and individuals affected by other serious health events get back in the workforce.

“As a stroke survivor who was told that they may never walk again, I know firsthand the magnitude this disease has physically, psychologically, and emotionally on individuals and families,said Congresswoman Beatty.  “Stroke impacts hundreds of thousands of American families each year, so not only do we need to increase awareness, but we must also ensure that strokes and risk-factors are appropriately researched and funded. The time is now because stroke can strike anyone at any time.”

Every 40 seconds, someone in the U.S. has a stroke.  1 in every 4 stroke survivors will have another one.  Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the United States and a leading cause of long-term disability. Implementing interventions to decrease stroke risk by improving blood pressure control, diet, and physical activity is essential for reducing stroke deaths. Knowing more about the signs and symptoms of stroke and improving stroke management can also help reduce death and disability related to stroke.

In an effort to reduce these sobering statistics, Congresswoman Beatty has consistently led a letter to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education requesting billions in federal funds each year for the National Institute of Neurological Disorders (NINDS). Housed in the National Institutes of Health, NINDS supports groundbreaking research to improve the understanding of the nervous system and harness that knowledge to reduce the effects of neurological disorders, such as stroke.

During the 115th Congress, Beatty was the lead Democratic sponsor of the Furthering Access to Stroke Telemedicine (FAST) Act. The bill was later signed into law as part of a broader spending package and helps stroke victims gain access to fast, high quality stroke care.

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