[Page S1838]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 138--SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF ``DEEP VEIN 
          THROMBOSIS AND PULMONARY EMBOLISM AWARENESS MONTH''

  Mr. GRASSLEY (for himself, Ms. Blunt Rochester, Mr. Marshall, and Mr. 
Lujan) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and 
agreed to:

                              S. Res. 138

       Whereas deep vein thrombosis (referred to in this preamble 
     as ``DVT'') is a condition that occurs when a blood clot 
     forms in the deep veins of the body, such as in the arm, 
     abdomen, around the brain, and most commonly in the leg;
       Whereas a potentially life-threatening complication of DVT 
     is a pulmonary embolism (referred to in this preamble as a 
     ``PE''), where a blood clot breaks off, travels through the 
     blood stream, and lodges in the lung;
       Whereas DVT and PEs are serious but often preventable 
     medical conditions;
       Whereas DVT and PEs affect as many as 900,000 individuals 
     in the United States each year;
       Whereas DVT and PEs kill an estimated 60,000 to 100,000 
     individuals in the United States each year, and 1 out of 4 
     individuals who have a PE die without warning;
       Whereas deaths caused by DVT and PEs are often preventable;
       Whereas DVT and PEs are among the leading causes of 
     preventable hospital deaths in the United States;
       Whereas DVT and PEs are common complications faced by 
     cancer patients, and survival rates are lower for individuals 
     with cancer who also have blood clots;
       Whereas pregnancy increases the risk of DVT and PEs, and 
     that risk remains elevated for up to 3 months after giving 
     birth;
       Whereas immobility, surgery, older age, and a family 
     history of clotting and thrombophilia increase the risk of 
     DVT and PEs;
       Whereas DVT and PEs contribute to up to $10,000,000,000 in 
     incremental medical costs each year in the United States; and
       Whereas the establishment of March as ``Deep Vein 
     Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism Awareness Month'' would 
     raise awareness about these life-threatening but preventable 
     conditions: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) supports the goals and ideals of ``Deep Vein Thrombosis 
     and Pulmonary Embolism Awareness Month''; and
       (2) recognizes the importance of raising awareness of deep 
     vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolisms.

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