Reps. Cherfilus-McCormick, Kaptur, Brown, and Kennedy Advocate in Honor of National CPR and AED Awareness Week to Expand Access to AEDs

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Reps. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Shontel Brown (D-OH), and Timothy Kennedy (D-NY), held a Capitol Hill press conference in recognition of National CPR and AED Awareness Week and the need to expand nationwide access to AEDs.

The legislators called on Speaker Mike Johnson to bring the HEARTS Act of 2024 to the floor for an immediate vote. This legislation, which includes the Access to AEDs Act, advanced unanimously through the Energy and Commerce Committee markup.

“As a mom and Member of Congress, I’m on a mission to expand life-saving healthcare tools to children nationwide by equipping elementary and secondary schools with AEDs and routine Cardiac Emergency Response training,” said Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL). “By boosting access to these life-saving tools and implementing proactive procedures, we will protect the lives of our schoolchildren when disaster strikes. I call on Speaker Johnson to bring the HEARTS Act of 2024, a bipartisan, common-sense legislation to the floor before another parent suffers the loss of a child.” 

"As we recognize CPR and AED Awareness week, it is imperative that Speaker Johnson bring the HEARTS Act of 2024 to the floor for an immediate vote. By providing schools with funding and support to develop a Cardiac Emergency Response Plan we are providing tools that can help save lives — every year 7,000 American children suffer from Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA).  We can do something about it," said Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (D-OH). "While Ohio is one of only 24 states with AED requirements, we know the survival for SCA doubles when an AED is available prior to arrival of emergency responders. In Ohio, we know that well with an AED saving the life of NFL player Damar Hamlin when he collapsed due to SCA in Cincinnati in January of 2023. Hamlin is back playing football thanks to the exceptional efforts of medical professionals and AED equipment.  Every child across our country should have access to the same life saving AEDs and medical care that saved Damar's life."

“CPR and AED Awareness Week isn’t just about awareness, it’s about action. I’m proud to support Congresswoman Kaptur and Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick in their work to get AEDs into schools nationwide. We know that with CPR every second counts and when it comes to young people and athletes – every student counts,” said Congresswoman Shontel Brown (D-OH).

“Last year, the whole world saw the power of CPR training and an easily accessed AED,” said Congressman Timothy Kennedy (D-NY). “More personally, I have experienced this myself. In 2022, along with two others, I performed CPR on a dear friend and community leader, Marnetta Malcolm, who had gone into cardiac arrest. If not for our CPR training and access to a defibrillator, there would have been a much different outcome. Everyone should have access to that training and to an AED in an emergency, and this legislation will help move us towards that future.” 

A full video recording of the press conference can be found here.

Photos from the press conference can be found here.

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