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A JOINT MEMORIAL

RECOGNIZING FEBRUARY 3, 2006 AS "WEAR RED FOR WOMEN DAY" IN

THE LEGISLATURE.

WHEREAS, heart disease is the nation's leading cause of

death, and stroke is the nation's third leading cause of

death; and

WHEREAS, cardiovascular disease claims the lives of more

than five hundred thousand American women each year, at a rate

of approximately one death per minute; and

WHEREAS, of the nation's deaths each year, fifty-three

percent of women but only forty-six percent of men die from

cardiovascular disease and forty thousand more women than men

die from stroke; and

WHEREAS, the direct and indirect costs of cardiovascular

disease and stroke in the United States are projected to reach

two hundred billion forty million dollars ($200,040,000,000)

in 2006; and

WHEREAS, more women die of cardiovascular disease than

the next six leading causes of death combined, including all

cancers; and

WHEREAS, only thirteen percent of women consider

cardiovascular disease to be their greatest health risk; and

WHEREAS, February is designated as American heart month;

and

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WHEREAS, the slogan "go red for women" is the American

heart association's national call to increase awareness of

heart disease, the nation's leading cause of death for women,

and to inspire women to take charge of their heart health;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE

STATE OF NEW MEXICO that February 3, 2006 be proclaimed "Wear

Red for Women Day" in recognition of the importance of the

ongoing fight against heart disease and stroke; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the legislature support the

fight against women's heart disease and stroke by encouraging

the wearing of red on February 3, 2006.