Press Releases

WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), marking nine years since the passing of her late husband, Charles, introduced the Charles Rochester Blood Clot Prevention and Treatment Act. Charles Rochester tore his Achilles tendon playing a game of pickup basketball before a business meeting. Blood clots traveled to his heart and lungs and, at the age of 52, he died. 

The Charles Rochester Blood Clot Prevention and Treatment Act, introduced in his memory and honor, is bipartisan legislation, introduced with Dr. Larry Bucshon (R-IN), Rep. Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.), and Dr. Michael Burgess (R-Texas), that would direct the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to launch a national campaign to increase public awareness of blood clot signs and symptoms and would establish an advisory committee to help streamline effective diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of blood clots and pulmonary embolisms. 

Groups most at risk for blood clots and pulmonary embolisms include the elderly, women during and just after pregnancy, those with a family history of blood clots, those with recent or recurrent cancer, or those with recent injury or trauma. 

“Charles was the love of my life - he was brilliant, kind, humble, and healthy. He was a vegetarian who worked out every day - and his death was a shock - and an example that blood clots can affect anyone,” said Rep. Blunt Rochester. “The Charles Rochester Blood Clot Prevention and Treatment Act would help raise awareness of this preventable disease that takes the life of an American every six minutes. We can and should do more to help folks recognize the symptoms and warning signs of blood clots so they can get their loved ones the care they need, when they need it - and save lives.”

“The Charles Rochester Blood Clot Prevention and Treatment Act recognizes the critical importance of increasing awareness of blood clot signs and symptoms,” said Dr. Bucshon. “As a physician, I have seen the challenges and consequences imposed on patients and families dealing with this issue. This legislation will save lives by providing education and support, while helping to streamline diagnosis and treatment. I am honored to work across the aisle with my colleague Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester on this legislation honoring her late husband.”

"I am honored to work with Rep. Blunt Rochester in introducing the Charles Rochester Blood Clot Prevention and Treatment Act, named in memory of her late husband. This vital legislation aims to increase awareness of the warning signs associated with deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolisms," said Dr. Burgess. "By doing so, we aspire to bolster prevention efforts and enhance treatment options for the benefit of all Americans who may experience the distressing impact of deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolisms.”

The Charles Rochester Blood Clot Prevention and Treatment Act is supported by the American Heart Association and the National Blood Clot Association.

Specifically, the bill would:

• Increase public awareness of blood clot signs and symptoms and educate health care providers on the blood clot signs and symptoms by requiring the CDC to conduct a nationwide public awareness campaign;
• Establish an advisory committee that will provide advice, information, and recommendations to the Secretary of HHS regarding programs, policies, and research to promote effective diagnosis, treatment and prevention of blood clots and pulmonary embolisms; 
• Improve our understanding of who and how many Americans are impacted by blood clots by requiring the CDC to conduct a study on novel ways of detecting and monitoring blood clots at the population level.   

The symptoms and warning signs of blood clots and pulmonary embolisms can be found below:

A one-pager for the bill can be found here.

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