Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), and Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kan.) introduced and passed a bipartisan resolution recognizing Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism Awareness Month. Every year, as many as 900,000 individuals in the United States are affected by deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolisms, conditions caused by blood clots. Every six minutes, someone in the United States dies from a blood clot. Additionally, 100,000 Americans lose their lives to blood clot conditions each year. These are lives that could be saved if the signs are detected early enough.
In 2023, as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Senator Blunt Rochester introduced the bipartisan Charles Rochester Blood Clot Prevention and Treatment Act, named after her late husband who passed away suddenly from a pulmonary embolism. The bill would invest in educating the American people about blood clots and increase educational resources for health care providers so they can better identify and treat blood clots. Then, in 2024, Blunt Rochester unveiled her Blood Clot Awareness, Action, and Advocacy: The Toolkit, a compilation of resources of information for medical providers and members of the public.
“This is a deeply personal issue for me, and as someone who understands what it’s like to lose a loved one to blood clots, I am passionate about empowering Americans to know the signs and symptoms of this disease,” said Senator Blunt Rochester, member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee. “No family should experience what mine and so many others have had to go through. This resolution is a first step to encouraging awareness, advocacy, and action on blood clots so that they know how to get help before it’s too late. I am grateful to Senators Grassley and Luján for joining me in this bipartisan effort and proud that the resolution passed overwhelmingly.”
“We want to bring attention to the fact that this health problem affects about 900,000 Americans and contributes to 10 billion dollars in medical costs annually. While blood clots can be life-threatening, they are preventable and treatable. I’m thankful that Des Moines, Iowa, 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,” said Senator Grassley.
“Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) affects millions of Americans each year and claims thousands of lives from blood clots associated with the condition,” said Senator Luján. “Early detection and prevention are crucial in reducing the devastating impact of these conditions. By raising awareness of DVT and Pulmonary Embolism, we can help prevent complications and save lives.”
“During DVT and Pulmonary Embolism Awareness Month, it’s critical we share information regarding the serious risks associated with these conditions. After practicing medicine for over 25 years, I have a deep understanding of the devastating effects of blood clots. By increasing awareness and encouraging early detection, we can empower Americans at risk to take proactive steps in preventing these potentially fatal conditions and ultimately save lives,” said Senator Marshall.
“I want to thank Senators Grassley, Blunt Rochester, Marshall and Luján for their bipartisan leadership in raising awareness of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism for the third straight year. I am passionate about raising awareness of the risk of blood clots, as someone who has suffered from seven blood clots, including a close call with pulmonary embolism. Right now, only six percent of Americans know what a blood clot is, so it is critical that more Americans become aware of their risks and take steps to prevent and treat blood clots, which can be life-threatening,” said Des Moines resident Todd Robertson, a National Blood Clot Alliance Patient Liaison and Board of Directors member.
Full text of the resolution can be found here.
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