A resolution designating February 2026 as "American Heart Month".

119th Congress Introduced by Mike Crapo and 1 co-sponsor

Designate February 2026 as American Heart Month to raise awareness, promote prevention, support research, and improve access to care for cardiovascular disease.

Passed/agreed to in Senate: Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.

Summary: S. Res. 614 — Designating February 2026 as “American Heart Month”

Purpose

Designate February 2026 as “American Heart Month” to raise awareness of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and encourage efforts to reduce risk, promote prevention, and support research and access to care.

Key Provisions and Changes

Official designation: Senate designates February 2026 as “American Heart Month.”

Goals and ideals: Endorses ongoing public awareness and education about CVD, its causes, risks, and prevention.

Commitment reaffirmation: Reaffirms the United States’ commitment to combating CVD through:

Promoting awareness about causes, risks, and prevention
Supporting CVD research
Improving access to affordable, quality care to reduce long-term disability and mortality

COVID-19 considerations: Recognizes and supports addressing the long-term cardiovascular health implications and mortality associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Stakeholder recognition: Commends states, territories, localities, non-profit organizations, businesses, and individuals who support American Heart Month.

Public empowerment: Encourages every individual to learn about their own risk for CVD.

Who/What Is Affected

General public in the United States is the primary audience for awareness efforts.

Government and non-governmental organizations involved in heart health advocacy, research, and health care access may coordinate through American Heart Month activities.

No new mandatory programs or funding are specified in the resolution; it serves a formal designation and alignment with existing CVD awareness efforts.

Procedural and Timeline Details

Sponsor and status: Introduced in the Senate by Senators Durbin (and Crapo as co-sponsor); co-sponsored by Durbin and Crapo.

Passage: Considered and agreed to by the Senate without amendment and with a preamble, by unanimous consent, on February 25, 2026.

Effective action: The designation applies to February 2026; it is a commemorative resolution rather than a bill creating new law or mandatory programs.

Context and Rationale

CVD remains the leading cause of death in the United States, causing hundreds of thousands of deaths annually and substantial health care costs.

The resolution emphasizes continued public education, risk factor awareness (e.g., high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, diet, physical inactivity, obesity, diabetes), and the importance of prevention and early detection.

It also highlights the disproportionate impact of CVD on certain racial and ethnic minority populations and the importance of addressing health equity in heart health initiatives.

Impact Overview

Raises national visibility of American Heart Month and encourages broad participation by individuals, communities, and organizations.

Encourages ongoing collaboration across public health, research, clinical care, and policy to reduce the burden of CVD.

Serves as a formal housekeeping action to align with long-standing presidential proclamations designating February as American Heart Month.