ACHA Participates in CHD Briefing on Capitol Hill

On Sept. 19, 2011, the Adult Congenital Heart Association had a unique opportunity to participate in the "Congenital Heart Defects: A Lifelong Disease" briefing on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Using the event's message, "We can't afford to miss a beat," ACHA President/CEO Amy Verstappen joined leading experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the March of Dimes to honor the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities' 10 Years of Service and focus on understanding the public health impact of congenital heart defects across the lifespan. Click here for the complete text of her comments. This was an incredible opportunity to educate Congress about the important role of federal and state programs in congenital heart defect research, surveillance, screening and prevention. The briefing was co-hosted by Senators Dick Durbin and Thad Cochran, long-time champions for congenital heart disease.