On February 13, 2026, the White House released the Presidential Message on American Heart Month renewing President Trump's and the entire Trump Administration's commitment to protect American hearts, keeping Americans safe, healthy, and free. President Trump implores Americans to take charge of their health and work to decrease their personal risk of heart attack or stroke by participating in regular check-ups, exercise, maintaining a balanced diet (the new Dietary Guidelines are discussed in my January 8, 2026 ANP Article), and controlling your blood pressure and cholesterol. President Trump writes:
This American Heart Month, I encourage every citizen to make lifestyle changes and take preventative measures to improve the odds against illness, disability, and death. We pray for the families devastated by loss, we honor the resilience of the survivors of heart disease, and above all, we rededicate ourselves to working toward a future where heart disease does not deprive the American people of long, productive, and fulfilling lives.
In 1964, President Lyndon B Johnson announced the first National Heart Awareness Month. However, the American Heart Association actually began in 1915 when physicians and social workers in New York City formed the Association for the Prevention and Relief of Heart Disease. The first Friday in February is "wear red" day as part of the "Go Red for Women" initiative that began in 2003.
The Pulse Heart Institute has identified the following Risk Factors for Heart Disease:
Non-modifiable risk factors:
Age: Men 45 years and above and women 55 years and older
Family history of premature heart disease in first-degree relatives (parent, sibling or child prior to age 55)
Modifiable risk factors:
Elevated blood pressure
Type 2 diabetes
Tobacco use
Elevated cholesterol
Risk-enhancing factors:
Metabolic syndrome
Conditions specific to women: Preeclampsia, gestational diabetes (pregnancy acts as a stress test), premature menopause
Persistently elevated triglycerides (greater than or equal to 175 mg/ml)
Persistently elevated LDL or “bad” cholesterol (greater than or equal to 160 mg/dl)
Chronic kidney disease
They also include ways to improve your heart health to include physical activity, food choices (eat more fruits and vegetables), decrease or stop tobacco use and/or vaping, manage your blood pressure, quality sleep, and have social connections.
The NIH website has a variety of links to assist you in your search for information on how to make your heart healthy, including social media resources; publications; and articles, slides, and flyers.
In the video below, they mention the PulsePoint App where you can register to become a responder for heart emergencies requiring CPR in your immediate vicinity. PulsePoint is not available in all areas (yet). Responders include Public CPOR Responder, Registered CPR Responder, and Professional Responder. Public CPR Responders are community members who have been trained in CPR and the use of defibrillators (AED). They are notified on nearby cardiac arrest events that occur in public places. The Registered CPR Responder is a person who has medical or rescue training. They will be alerted to all cardia arrest events including in private residences. Professional Responders are typically firefighters, paramedics, and law enforcement who respond to events while they are on duty. AED responders are volunteers that own or have immediate access to an AED who can respond to events where an AED is needed.
On February 13, 2026, the White House released the Presidential Message on Career and Technical Education [CTE] Month expressing the President's desire to promote and expand CTE which will increase employment opportunities for our youth. The President's deals with manufacturers will increase the need for employees trained in science and technology. The Trump Administration has set forth a series of initiatives to provide a blueprint for aligning both education and workforce systems to produce highly qualified youth that these manufactures will want to employ. President Trump writes:
This month, we honor the hardworking men and women who stand at the center of American innovation, ingenuity, and determination. My Administration will never waver in preparing our workers and students to lead our Nation into a radiant American future defined by skill, tenacity, excellence, and strength.
Seems to me the focus of the Trump Administration is producing workers for corporations and businesses rather than providing a grounding education for our youth. It reminds me of the March 13, 2025 ANP Article I wrote about the Department of Education being shut down before President Trump leaves office in which I discovered that "public" education (i.e., government education) was created to make "good little employees" for businesses and corporations who did not want "thinkers." These corporations and businesses wanted "followers" who would not question their orders. And it seems that what was created back then is still in force and going even stronger now. It's just the focus that has changed. The focus now is on technology and aerospace.
The idea of CTE month (previously known as Vocational Education Month) began with Justin Smith Morill of Vermont who established land grant colleges for the study of agriculture and the mechanical arts. In 1906, the National Society for the Promotion of Industrial Education formed as a lobby for vocational education. In 1914, the Smith-Lever Act established a national Cooperative Extension Service to educate rural Americans about advances in agricultural practices and technology.
In 1917, President Woodrow Wilson signed the Smith-Hughes Vocational Education Act which started the Federal Funding of vocational education. It also represented the first Federal monetary investment in the K-12 education system. Since then, many acts have been signed into law:
1929 George-Reed Act for agriculture and home economics.
1934 George-Elizey Act authorized $3M for agriculture, home economics, trades, and industry.
1936 George-Deen Act authorized $14M for agriculture, home economics, trades, and industry.
1946 George-Barden Act authorized $29M for agriculture, home economics, trades, and industry.
1958 National Defense Education Act to support training of highly skilled technicians for National defense.
1963 Vocational Education Act of 1963 focused on services for disadvantaged students and students with disabilities (access and equity) declaring that all vocational education programs (VocEd) should support "persons of all ages and in all communities." Also provided start money to create area tech centers, work-study programs, and national VocEd research.
1968 VocEd amendments to further research, establish permanent programs for VocEd, consumer, and homemaking education. It also created a task force that was charged with making education more effective in meeting the manpower needs of the nation.
1976 Vocational Education Act introduced emphasis on women and girls in non-traditional occupations with a focus on gender equality.
1984 Carl D. Perkins Vocational Education Act focused on guidance counseling, industry-education partnerships in high technology sectors, and meeting labor market needs.
1990s an "accountability infrastructure" was formed to look at performance indicators, numerators, denominators, and methods of measurement of the success (or failure) of VocEd programs.
1994 Gioals 2000: Educate America Act created the National Skills Standards Board (NSSB) to create a system of standards, assessments, and certifications for VocEd.
1998 Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act generated a stronger focus on accountability for Voc Ed. Shortly after this Act, the nomenclature changed from VocEd to CTE (Career and Technical Education) with 16 identified career clusters.
2006 Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act (Perkins IV) was enacted placing a stronger emphasis on academic and CTE integration and post-secondary connections through programs of study. In my school, this became dual high school/college credit for courses as well as sitting for industry standard exams (like A+ and N+ certifications).
2012 began the development of Common Career Technical Core (CCTC) standards.
2018 President Trump signed Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act into law which reauthorized the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006.
On February 13, 2026, the White House released the article President Trump Delivers Another Inflation Win: Real Wages Surge, Price Relief Reaches Americans points out that the America First Agenda instituted by President Trump and the Trump Administration is paying off with no evidence of tariff-induced spikes. Wages are growing faster than prices leaving more of your hard-earned income in your pocket. Consumers are seeing real relief at the gas pump, the pharmacy (with TrumpRx discussed in my February 2, 2026 ANP Article), and the grocery store checkout. Personally, I have seen price drops at both the gas pump and at the grocery store.
On February 13, 2026, the White House released the article President Trump Delivers Biggest Regulatory Relief in History removing the over burdensome "green" rules that added an average of $2,400 to the price of new cars, SUVs, and trucks. This will lower the price of vehicles in general as well as allow individuals to reject unpopular features the green rules forced upon new vehicles.
On February 13, 2026, the Office of the First Lady published the statement First Lady Melania Trump Embraces Love of Country & Family to United States Armed Forces as Mrs. Trump addressed the military and their families at Fort Bragg and Pope Army Airfield for Valentine's Day before President Trump took the stage. She emphasized the importance of love letters between spouses who are separated, as happens frequently in our military. Here is her full speech:
Good afternoon and thank you for your warm welcome. The President and I are grateful to be with you—to honor the passion you share through unmatched bravery, resilience, and service to our great Nation. Thank you for defending our freedom.
It is with immense pleasure for me to address the Fort Bragg and Pope Army Airfield community today. To our great armed forces of the United States stationed all over the world, I have a nostalgia-filled message: Happy Valentine’s Day!
Love letters have symbolized the union of patriotism and family devotion among our soldiers for 250 years. The harmony of love of country and love of family is what makes us uniquely American. It is this very balance which strengthens our military and builds our communities. And now, it is my distinct honor to introduce your Commander-in-Chief—our leader who maintains a mission of peace through strength—President Donald J. Trump.
Those are some of the exact words used by Google’s censors, aka 'Orwellian content police,' in describing many of our controversial stories. Stories later proven to be truthful and light years ahead of the mainstream media. But because we reported those 'inconvenient truths' they're trying to bankrupt ANP.
