House unanimously passes CAROL Act honoring Rep. Andy Barr’s late wife
The U.S. House unanimously passed legislation championed by Rep. Andy Barr that invests in valvular heart research to honor his late wife, who died last year at the age of 39 from a rare condition.
The CAROL Act -- Cardiovascular Advances in Research and Opportunities Legacy -- authorizes a $20 million National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute grant program to support research on valvular heart disease. It also directs the program to convene experts to identify research needs and develop prescriptive treatments for patients who suffer from mitral valve prolapse, Eleanor Carol Leavell Barr’s official cause of death, according to the Fayette County coroner’s office.
The bill now moves to the Senate, where Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Democratic Sen. Kyrsten Sinema are shepherding its passage.
“With today’s vote, we are one step closer to pushing the CAROL Act across the finish line and enshrining Carol Barr’s legacy,” Barr said following the vote. “This bill delivers critical resources to close the gaps in understanding about valvular heart disease and save lives. I am grateful to the American Heart Association, WomenHeart, the American College of Cardiology and so many of my colleagues who supported this bill from the start.”
Barr’s wife died in June of 2020 from mitral valve prolapse, when flaps of the heart’s valve do not close smoothly. The couple had been married since 2008 and have two young daughters.
“There is no better way to honor her memory than to support initiatives that will help save lives,” said House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy. “I am in awe of Andy’s strength in navigating grief to work on the CAROL Act ...It is a fitting tribute to Carol’s legacy.”
In addition to research and development of prescriptive treatment guidelines, the bill instructs the Center for Disease Control to increase public awareness regarding the symptoms of valvular heart disease and strategies for preventing deaths.
Mitral valve prolapse occurs in around 2% of the population and in most cases it’s harmless. Some people can live with the condition and never know they have it. But while most people can’t detect MVP, symptoms include murmurs, bursts of rapid heartbeat and chest discomfort.
Women are more likely than men to go undiagnosed, and therefore are more likely not to be treated. According to the American Heart Association, MVP kills approximately 25,000 people each year.
“One of the most troubling aspects of mitral valve prolapse is just how much we still don’t know about the causes and risk factors that can lead to it,” said Mark Schoeberl, executive vice president and advocacy of the American Heart Association. He said the CAROL Act’s establishment of a national registry for cardiac arrest would help medical professionals better understand the disease.
The Senate could pass the CAROL Act as early as over the next two weeks before it recesses for the Christmas holiday.
This story was originally published December 9, 2021 at 12:33 PM.
