Pallone Applauds Senate Passage of His HEARTS Act
Pallone’s Legislation Aims to Help Prevent Sudden Cardiac Arrest in Young People
Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) released the following statement today after the Senate passed H.R. 6829, the HEARTS Act, a bill sponsored by Pallone. The bill, which overwhelmingly passed the House in September, now heads to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law:
"This is a major step forward in protecting young lives. My HEARTS Act will help schools be better prepared to act quickly in a cardiac emergency, saving lives that would otherwise be lost," Pallone said. "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 introduced the HEARTS Act to help prevent the untimely deaths of student-athletes, such as 17-year-old Kittim Sherrod of Edison, New Jersey. 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 sudden cardiac arrest each year.
Key provisions of the HEARTS Act include:
- Deployment of automated external defibrillators (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 sudden cardiac arrest risks.
The HEARTS Act has received widespread support, including from 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.
Before passing the House, the HEARTS Act unanimously passed out of the Energy and Commerce Committee in March.
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