Whereas peripheral artery disease (PAD) affects nearly 20,000,000 Americans, including an estimated 200,000 Americans who are from disproportionately minority communities; Whereas PAD is a chronic condition that causes narrowing or blockage of blood vessels that carry blood from the heart to the legs; Whereas the primary cause of PAD is the buildup of plaque in the arteries or atherosclerosis; Whereas many risk factors for PAD include smoking, high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, carotid artery disease, diabetes, high cholesterol, and being 60 years of age or older; Whereas individuals with type 2 diabetes and PAD are 4 times more likely to lose a limb compared to individuals without either such disease; Whereas individuals who smoke are 3 times more likely to develop PAD; Whereas researchers analyzing data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999–2004) found that 5.9 percent of the United States population aged 40 years or older have a low ankle brachial index (ABI) (≤0.9), which indicates the presence of PAD; Whereas African Americans are twice as likely to be diagnosed with PAD and up to 3 times as likely to have an amputation; Whereas if not properly diagnosed, PAD can lead to nontraumatic lower limb amputations, heart attack, or stroke; Whereas unnecessary amputations drastically reduce the quality of life for PAD patients; Whereas PAD generally has a poor prognosis, with an increased risk of mortality, and about 50 and 70 percent of patients die at 2 and 4 years, respectively, with critical limb ischemia; and Whereas educating people on the risks of PAD and encouraging early screenings are crucial to preventing unnecessary amputations: Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives— (1) supports the goals and ideals of Peripheral Artery Disease Awareness Month; and (2) encourages the people of the United States to observe the month with appropriate awareness and educational activities.