Press Releases

WASHINGTON – Today, during Blood Clot Awareness Month, Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) unveiled a comprehensive toolkit titled “Blood Clot Awareness, Action, and Advocacy: The Toolkit” at a virtual press conference. Below are her remarks as delivered:

 

Good morning, everyone. I'm Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester, and I want to welcome you to the unveiling of our virtual blood clot toolkit. 

 

It's only fitting that we unveil this toolkit now, as March is Blood Clot Awareness Month. 

 

So, to all watching who have suffered a blood clot, had a family member or loved one, or simply want to join us in our movement to save lives, I say thank you for being here.

 

Why a blood clot toolkit? The focus of this toolkit is really threefold: One is awareness, two is action, and three is advocacy. 

 

First awareness. 

 

You will learn what is a blood clot, what are the signs and symptoms, and that blood clots don't discriminate - they can affect any of us. 

 

In fact, one American every six minutes dies from a blood clot. Let me repeat that: every minute, one American every six minutes dies from a blood clot. 

 

Pregnant women are five times more likely to experience a blood clot than women who are not pregnant. Black Americans are at a higher risk of blood clots, seniors, those with family history, and it's the leading cause of death for people with cancer after the cancer itself. 

 

No one group is immune from athletes like Serena Williams, to singers like Tori Kelly, and actors like Jimmy Stewart - they have been affected by blood clots. 

 

But what's key here is that blood clots are highly preventable and treatable if discovered early. And that's one of the reasons why I wanted to unveil this toolkit, so that we can all better understand blood clots and who is at risk - awareness. 

 

Second is action. For me, as a Congresswoman and as a member of the Health Subcommittee, this is a professional mission. But as Lisa, this is personal. 

 

Many of you may be aware that I lost my husband, the love of my life, Charles Rochester, to blood clots. Charles was a vegetarian who worked out every day. Brilliant, kind, funny, humble. And during a business trip, Charles played a game of pickup basketball before one of his meetings and tore his Achilles tendon. Blood clots traveled to his heart and lungs, and at the age of 52, he died.

 

His death shook me to the core. But it also inspired me to act - from awareness to action. And that's why last year in September, the month Charles was born, and the month that he died, I proudly introduced the Charles Rochester Blood Clot Prevention and Treatment Act with Dr. Larry Bucshon of Indiana, Dr. Michael Burgess of Texas, and Representative Paul Tonko of New York. 

 

This bipartisan bill is really focused on recognizing the fact that blood clots aren't partisan. 

 

They can affect every single one of us. And it will take all of us in our efforts, collectively, to make a difference. 

 

It's supported by a number of organizations and that list is growing. 

 

What would the bill do? The bill would direct the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to launch a national campaign to increase public awareness of blood clot signs and symptoms. 

 

It would establish an advisory committee to help streamline effective diagnoses, treatment and prevention of blood clots and pulmonary embolisms, because we know not only do we need the information, but so does the medical community. 

 

And importantly, it would improve our understanding of who and how many Americans are impacted by blood clots. The CDC will be required to investigate novel ways of detecting and monitoring blood clots at the national level. Bottom line: this bill will save lives. Awareness, action, and lastly, advocacy.

 

Recently, my family was again impacted by blood clots. My dad was diagnosed with cancer around the Fourth of July last year. 

 

He went through chemo treatments. He went through a number of things and having been released from the hospital, he was home late one night and my family, we noticed that one of his legs was beginning to swell. 

 

It was red and it was hot to the touch. It was something that for me knowing the signs and symptoms, we immediately took him to the emergency room. This is what dad's leg looked like, with the blood clot. As you can see. 

 

Dad passed away from cancer earlier this year, but we had four extra months with him.

 

And so, for us, we know, this is about awareness, this is about action, and this is about advocacy. And we know that advocating for your care can sometimes be hard. 

 

Sometimes doing it for a family member can be hard. 

 

And that's why it was important to me to include ways that you can advocate, from the doctor's office to social media. This bill, this kit, is about awareness, action, and advocacy. And after, what's next, the toolkit will be sent out after our event, to everyone on this call, and will be on my website. But we need you to help get this out and spread the word.

 

I'm so proud that I'm not doing this work alone, you will hear from other presenters and speakers. And there are so many organizations that are on the battlefront with us. But it is now my great honor to introduce someone who has been a champion in this, on this issue as well. A colleague, a friend, representing the great state of New York, Representative Paul Tonko, for comments.

 

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