Press Release: 2022-12-06

CAROL Act will prioritize research on heart valve diseases

CAROL Act will prioritize research on heart valve disease

Legislation also will create awareness campaign, expand national registry

WASHINGTON, D.C., December 1, 2022 — The U.S. Senate today passed the bipartisan Cardiovascular Advances in Research and Opportunities Legacy (CAROL) Act, which will prioritize research on valvular heart disease. The bill now heads back to the House of Representatives for a final vote. An earlier version of the bill passed the House unanimously last December.

Nancy Brown, chief executive of the American Heart Association, a global force for healthier lives for all, issued the following statement:

“There is still so much we do not know about heart valve disease, which kills approximately 25,000 people each year. The CAROL Act will help advance our understanding and awareness of sudden cardiac death, which took the life of Congressman Andy Barr’s wife, Eleanor “Carol” Leavell Barr, in 2020.

“The American Heart Association is grateful to Congressman Barr for turning his family tragedy into a compelling movement that will benefit everyone at risk for sudden cardiac death. The CAROL Act will inspire scientists and researchers, create more awareness of valvular heart disease and save lives. This critical legislation will help prevent countless other families from facing the same loss as the Barr family, and we are eager to see the bill finalized and signed into law."