The Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) Provides a Critical Voice in the Passing of the HEARTS Act – Legislation That Will Save Lives in Schools Nationwide
The U.S. Senate passed the Cardiomyopathy Health, Education, Awareness, Research, and Training in Schools (HEARTS) Act (H.R. 6829), a landmark bill aimed at preventing sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in young people.
The U.S. Senate passed the Cardiomyopathy Health, Education, Awareness, Research, and Training in Schools (HEARTS) Act (H.R. 6829), a landmark bill aimed at preventing sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in young people.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (December 17, 2024) – Last week, the U.S. Senate passed the Cardiomyopathy Health, Education, Awareness, Research, and Training in Schools (HEARTS) Act (H.R. 6829), a landmark bill aimed at preventing sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in young people. The U.S. House of Representatives passed the bill in September, and it now awaits the President’s signature to become law.
This legislation will help equip schools and childcare centers with automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and provide CPR training for both staff and students. It also establishes a federal grant program to ensure schools have the necessary resources to effectively respond to cardiac emergencies.
Key provisions of the HEARTS Act:
- Deployment of AEDs: Ensures schools and childcare centers have access to life-saving AEDs.
- Training Requirements: Mandates CPR and AED training for staff, students, and volunteers.
- Public Awareness Campaigns: Supports educational initiatives, developed in collaboration with the CDC, to raise awareness about cardiomyopathy and SCA risks.
As a proud member of the Smart Heart Sports Coalition, HRS celebrates this important step toward ensuring every school has the tools, training, and plans needed to save lives. The campaign to pass the HEARTS Act featured heartfelt stories from advocates across the country, sharing personal experiences with cardiac arrest and heart disease. It also included targeted media campaigns in Washington, D.C., and nationwide to amplify the voices of cardiac arrest survivors and families who have lost loved ones to SCA.
HRS and their advocacy arm, Heart Rhythm Advocates (HRA), mobilized members across the country through a grassroots campaign that streamlined the process of contacting their respective legislators in Washington and implore them to support this unprecedented life-saving legislation. HRS and HRA remain steadfast in their commitment to advocate for the field of cardiac electrophysiology, including increasing public awareness, education, training, and lifesaving equipment in public spaces.
Learn more about the HEARTS Act and the Smart Heart Sports Coalition by visiting smartheartsports.com.
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About the Heart Rhythm Society
The Heart Rhythm Society is the international leader in science, education, and advocacy for cardiac arrhythmia professionals and patients and the primary information resource on heart rhythm disorders. Its mission is to improve the care of patients by promoting research, education, and optimal healthcare policies and standards. Incorporated in 1979 and based in Washington, D.C., it has a membership of more than 8,600 heart rhythm professionals from 94 countries. For more information, visit HRSonline.org.
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About Heart Rhythm Advocates
Heart Rhythm Advocates (HRA), established in 2025 by the Heart Rhythm Society (HRS), is the U.S. leader in advocating for the care of patients with heart rhythm disorders and the healthcare professionals that serve them. For more information, visit www.heartrhythmadvocates.org.