-9999

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, last night the Senate passed my bipartisan resolution to bring attention to a very important issue but one that isn't discussed often enough: It is the deaths by blood clot.

We call March Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism Awareness Month. So that is a fancy name for blood clots, and last night the Senate took this action. It took that action because we want to bring attention to the fact that this health problem affects about 900,000 Americans and contributes to $10 billion in medical costs annually.

While blood clots can be life-threatening, they are preventable and treatable. Sadly, they are among the leading causes of preventable hospital deaths. Cancer patients, pregnant women, older Americans, and patients having surgery all face increased risks of blood clotting.

So I have a constituent who is very active in this movement, and I have met with him over the last 3 or 4 years that he has led a national effort to bring attention to the problems of blood clotting.

I am thankful that Des Moines, IA, resident Todd Robertson is working on this issue and was in my office yesterday to discuss what can be done, even beyond passing this resolution naming a whole month for this attention. He has the title of National Blood Clot Alliance patient liaison.

I want to give thanks to Todd in a big way about his passion because we are all more aware of the risk of blood clots and the necessary steps to prevent blood clotting and preserving our Nation's health with the people that have this problem.

So I would encourage all Americans to visit stoptheclot.org so every American can understand possible risks with clotting and how you can prevent that in your own life.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source