ACC Priority Legislation to Fund Cardiomyopathy Awareness, AEDs in Schools Passes Senate

The U.S. Senate passed the Cardiomyopathy Health Education, Awareness, Research, and Training in the Schools (HEARTS) Act (H.R. 6829), a major ACC Advocacy priority, on Dec. 10. The bill secures funding for cardiomyopathy awareness initiatives and supporting the placement of AEDs in schools, along with CPR and AED training.

"When Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field nearly two years ago, everything had to align perfectly for him to survive and fully recover – including quick access to an AED and CPR. He was fortunate, but many others are not as lucky. That’s why the HEARTS Act is so important," said ACC President Cathleen Biga, MSN, FACC. "Passage of this law secures funding for cardiomyopathy awareness and expands access to AEDs and lifesaving training in schools. The ACC is proud to have contributed through the Smart Heart Sports Coalition to make this legislation a reality. While more work remains to prevent sudden cardiac death, this is a significant step forward."

The U.S. House of Representatives previously passed this bill in September, and it was a featured talking point at ACC Legislative Conference 2024. The bill now needs to be signed by President Joe Biden to become law.

In partnership with the Smart Heart Sports Coalition, the ACC developed a multi-pronged strategy to advance this legislation, which includes components of the Access to AEDs Act, another ACC-supported bill that would authorize grants for AED programs, including training and emergency action plans. 

Thanks to more than 1,200 messages sent by ACC members, 250 meetings during ACC Legislative Conference 2024 and 150 HeartPAC events, where education on the benefits of AEDs in schools was a prominent topic, the HEARTS Act garnered the congressional support needed to pass both chambers. These collective efforts, driven by the voice of ACC members, were instrumental in moving the needle on this issue.

In addition to supporting the federal Access to AEDs Act, ACC Chapters have been pivotal in passing comprehensive AED legislation at the state level in California, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee and West Virginia in the past year. The College continues to support efforts in Alaska, Arizona, Delaware, Hawaii, Louisiana, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, New York, South Carolina, Virginia and Wisconsin to reduce sudden cardiac death in student athletes through legislative solutions in the coming year.

Looking for more on access to AEDs and the goals of the Smart Heart Sports Coalition? Watch a video explainer featuring ACC Sports and Exercise Cardiology Council Chair Jonathan H. Kim, MD, MSc, FACC, who was a key player in securing funding for AEDs in K-12 schools in Georgia.

Resources

Clinical Topics: Arrhythmias and Clinical EP, Heart Failure and Cardiomyopathies, Sports and Exercise Cardiology, SCD/Ventricular Arrhythmias

Keywords: ACC Advocacy, Cardiomyopathies, Death, Sudden, Cardiac, Schools, Athletes