Washington, D.C. – Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) announced today that his H.R. 6829, the HEARTS Act, has passed the U.S. Senate, marking a significant victory for public health. The bill, which overwhelmingly passed the House in September, now heads to President Biden’s desk for signature into law.
The HEARTS Act—formally known as the Cardiomyopathy Health, Education, Awareness, Research, and Training in Schools Act—aims to prevent sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in young people by equipping schools with automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and providing CPR training for staff and students. This legislation will establish a federal grant program to ensure schools and childcare centers have the resources they need to respond effectively to cardiac emergencies.
"This is a major step forward in protecting young lives," Pallone said. "My HEARTS Act will help schools be better prepared to act quickly in a cardiac emergency, saving lives that would otherwise be lost. Tragic losses like that of Edison’s Kittim Sherrod underscore the urgency of this effort, and I’m proud to see the Senate join us in passing this life-saving legislation. Now, I urge the President to sign it into law."
Pallone’s bill, inspired by the untimely deaths of student-athletes such as 17-year-old Kittim Sherrod of Edison, New Jersey, was crafted in collaboration with patient advocacy groups, educators, and health professionals. Sudden cardiac arrest remains a leading cause of death among young people, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimating that approximately 2,000 individuals under the age of 25 die from SCA each year.
Key provisions of the HEARTS Act include:
- Deployment of AEDs: Ensuring schools and childcare centers have access to life-saving devices.
- Training Requirements: Providing CPR and AED training to staff, students, and volunteers.
- Public Awareness Campaigns: Developing educational materials in collaboration with CDC to increase awareness of cardiomyopathy and SCA risks.
Support for the HEARTS Act has been widespread, with endorsements from organizations such as the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation, the Children’s Cardiomyopathy Foundation, and the John Taylor Babbitt Foundation. Advocates, including Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin, whose life was saved by an AED, have emphasized the bill’s transformative potential.
“My grandson Kittim did not die in vain,” said Razeenah Walker, President of The Kittim N. Sherrod Foundation. “Thanks to Congressman Pallone, this legislation ensures that no other family has to endure the loss of a child from a preventable cardiac event.”
"We commend the Senate for passing the HEARTS Act of 2024 (H.R. 6829) and extend our gratitude to Senator Frank Pallone for his leadership in advancing this vital, lifesaving legislation. Sudden Cardiac Arrest is a critical public health crisis, affecting 356,000 individuals annually in the United States, including 23,000 youth. Enacting this legislation will play a crucial role in increasing the current survival rate—around 10%—not just in schools but across communities nationwide,” Mary M. Newman, MS, President & CEO, Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation.
SOURCE: Office of Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr.