Washington – September 25, 2026 -- A bipartisan bill introduced in the U.S. Senate would create the Heart Security Foundation, a federally chartered nonprofit housed within the National Institutes of Health to accelerate cardiovascular research funding and coordination.
Cardiovascular disease kills nearly one million Americans annually
Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States, claiming close to one million lives each year, according to figures cited in the legislative push. Roughly 120 million American adults -- nearly one-third of the U.S. population -- are living with some form of cardiovascular disease, with risk levels disproportionately distributed across communities.
Senators Tillis and Padilla lead S.5469, The HEART Foundation Act
The bill, S.5469, is sponsored by Senators Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and Alex Padilla (D-CA). It would establish the foundation as a vehicle to pool public, private and philanthropic resources for cardiovascular research, operating alongside the NIH's existing scientific infrastructure.
"Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, and we must continue investing in research that can help prevent disease, improve early detection, and save lives," said Senator Tillis. Senator Padilla said heart disease remains the leading cause of death in California and nationwide, adding that the bill would "support critical research to help reduce the devastating impact of heart disease and ultimately save lives."
Foundation would target five research priorities
Under the proposal, the Heart Security Foundation could direct support toward prevention and early detection, biomarker and inherited-risk research, congenital cardiovascular conditions, and diversifying scientific pathways receiving funding. It would also aim to strengthen collaboration among federal researchers, universities, healthcare institutions, philanthropies and private-sector partners, and speed the translation of research discoveries into clinical application.
ASANA Voices frames bill as durable policy investment
ASANA Voices, an advocacy group focused on healthcare and economic policy for the South Asian American community, has backed the legislation. "The HEART Foundation Act offers a serious and practical framework for bringing additional resources into cardiovascular research while building on the scientific leadership of the NIH," said Prince Bhojwani, Founder and CEO of ASANA Voices. He credited Tillis and Padilla for "working across party lines to advance a durable solution."
The organization described the proposal as consistent with its approach of investing in research, data and institutions intended to produce results beyond a single election cycle or awareness campaign.