; Whereas LDL–C is a modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease and lower LDL–C is associated with a reduced risk of heart attack and stroke; Whereas more than 25.5 percent of adults in the United States have high LDL–C; Whereas more than 200 studies with over 2,000,000 patients have broadly established that elevated LDL–C unequivocally causes atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease; Whereas atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, which is responsible for nearly 85 percent of cardiovascular deaths, is the build-up of cholesterol plaque within the walls of arteries and includes acute coronary syndrome, peripheral arterial disease, and events such as heart attacks and strokes; Whereas the resources needed to bend the curve in cardiovascular disease exist, yet 71 percent of hypercholesterolemia patients at high risk of a cardiovascular event never achieve recommended LDL–C treatment guideline thresholds; Whereas only 33 percent of people with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease who are taking statins, a guideline recommended lipid lowering therapy, actually achieve LDL–C goals; Whereas only 27 percent of patients hospitalized for heart attack receive an LDL–C test in the 90 days following discharge from a hospital, as recommended by clinical guidelines; Whereas African-American adults were less likely than their White peers to receive an LDL–C test in the 90 days following discharge from a hospital, despite having a higher prevalence of cardiovascular disease; Whereas significant gaps in care lead to subsequent cardiovascular events; Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Million Hearts program seeks to improve access to and quality of care to reduce heart disease, stroke, and death; and Whereas September is recognized as National Cholesterol Education Month to raise awareness of cardiovascular disease and the importance of knowing one’s LDL–C number: Now, therefore, be it