S. 5430: South Asian Heart Health Awareness and Research Act of 2026

This bill would create a federal grant program focused on improving heart health in South Asian communities and other groups that are more likely to be affected by heart disease.

What the bill allows the government to do

The Secretary of Health and Human Services, through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), could give supplemental grant money to states that already receive federal funding for heart health programs. The money would be used to increase awareness of heart disease, including how it may relate to type 2 diabetes, in communities with higher rates of heart disease, such as South Asian communities in the United States.

How states could use the grant money

States receiving this money would have to use it for activities such as:

• Creating health education materials that are culturally appropriate and based on evidence, including information about nutrition, diet, and exercise;
• Supporting community organizations that work with or serve populations with higher heart disease risk, including South Asian communities;
• Holding conferences and workshops on how heart disease research could better include members of communities that are often underrepresented;
• Conducting or supporting research on cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and other heart-related conditions in at-risk populations.

Reporting requirement

Within 2 years after the bill becomes law, the Secretary of Health and Human Services would have to submit a report to Congress describing the activities supported by the grants and providing data on heart disease in communities that are disproportionately affected.

Funding

The bill authorizes up to $2 million per year for fiscal years 2027 through 2031 to carry out these activities.

Relevant Companies

None found