1. Short title This Act may be cited as the South Asian Heart Health Awareness and Research Act of 2017 . 2. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) The South Asian diaspora population in the United States is primarily from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Fiji, Maldives, East Africa, the West Indies, and the Caribbean. (2) Heart disease refers to several types of heart conditions; the most common form is coronary artery disease, which affects blood flow to the heart. (3) Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women—one in every 4 deaths each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (4) Risk factors for heart disease include diabetes, high blood pressure, excess body fat, high LDL cholesterol, and smoking. (5) In spite of a diet consisting of lentils, vegetables, grains, and spices, suboptimal nutritional elements of refined carbohydrates, refined fats, salt, and sugar negate any nutritional advantage gained through a traditional South Asian diet. (6) South Asian communities in the United States have four times the risk of heart disease than the general population and have a much greater chance of having a heart attack before age 50, according to the Stanford South Asian Translational Heart Initiative. (7) In addition, diabetes is one of the most serious driving forces for heart disease