HRS Applauds Senate Passage of Landmark HEARTS Act

December 19, 2024 – The Senate unanimously passed H.R.6829, the Cardiomyopathy Health Education, Awareness, and Research, and AED Training in the Schools Act of 2024 – the HEARTS Act – on December 11, 2024.

The legislation previously passed the House of Representatives by voice vote in September and will now be sent to the President to be signed into law. The bill, which was introduced by House Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone (D-NJ), aims to combat sudden cardiac arrest in young people and student athletes by increasing access to CPR training and automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in schools.

The bill will specifically require the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to disseminate information about cardiomyopathy and the use of AEDs to certain school professionals, families, and others, and to develop specified risk assessment tools for cardiomyopathy. In addition, the legislation instructs the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health to report on certain research and surveillance activities relating to cardiomyopathy. Finally, the HEARTS Act establishes a grant program to provide CPR training and AEDs in public schools.

Passage of the HEARTS Act is the culmination of grassroots efforts by the Heart Rhythm Society and its partners in the Smart Heart Sports Coalition advocating for this life-saving legislation. More information about the HEARTS Act and its potential to save lives can be found at SmartHeartSports.com, and you can stay informed on future legislative initiatives by visiting HeartRhythmAdvocates.org.