Cardiac arrest survivors, families who have lost loved ones, health care providers and other volunteer advocates from across the country are gathering in Washington, D.C., this week to urge Congress to fund the HEARTS Act, bipartisan legislation designed to help schools be ready to respond to cardiac emergencies. The advocates will join the American Heart Association, a global force changing the future of health for all, to continue the momentum of support for policies across the country that help save lives from cardiac arrest.
The advocates are part of the American Heart Association Heart Powered national grassroots network, which brings together people to share their personal stories in support of public policies that improve lives and create healthier communities. During meetings on Capitol Hill, advocates will ask lawmakers to include funding for the in the fiscal year 2027 appropriations process so schools nationwide can put lifesaving measures into action.
Passed unanimously by Congress and signed into law in 2024, the HEARTS Act authorized the creation of a grant program to help K–12 schools strengthen their response to cardiac emergencies. Funding would support schools in providing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillator (AED) training for staff and volunteers, purchasing and maintaining AEDs and developing cardiac emergency response plans. The law also advances research into cardiomyopathy and other conditions that can lead to cardiac arrest in young people.
According to the American Heart Association, more than 350,000 people in the United States experience cardiac arrest outside of a hospital each year, and survival often depends on whether someone nearby is prepared to act. Immediate CPR can double or even triple a person's chance of survival, yet far too often people nearby hesitate to help. A recent American Heart Association consumer survey found that nearly 6 in 10 U.S. adults still incorrectly believe CPR requires special training, a misconception that can delay lifesaving action.
"Heart Powered advocates are the reason progress on cardiac arrest preparedness is possible," said Nancy Brown, chief executive officer of the American Heart Association. "They bring the real-world stories behind the statistics — stories of lives saved, lives lost and moments when preparation made all the difference. Funding the HEARTS Act would give schools across the country the tools and training they need so that when cardiac arrest strikes, students, educators and families are surrounded by people ready to act without hesitation."
Participating advocates bring their personal perspectives shaped by survival, loss and frontline experience. During their time on Capitol Hill, advocates will share stories illustrating how quick access to 911, CPR and AEDs can mean the difference between life and death — and how gaps in preparedness can have tragic consequences. Schools equipped with AEDs and trained responders see significantly higher survival rates when cardiac arrest occurs, underscoring the importance of readiness.
The American Heart Association's Nation of Lifesavers™ initiative aims to double survival from cardiac arrest by 2030 by increasing CPR knowledge, expanding AED access and strengthening emergency response systems in communities across the country. Funding the HEARTS Act is a critical step toward that goal, helping schools become safer places to learn, work and gather.
The American Heart Association encourages people nationwide to join the advocates in Washington by texting AED to 46839 to urge Congress to fund this lifesaving program.
As a founding member of the NFL's Smart Heart Sports Coalition, the American Heart Association also champions state policies that require schools to implement cardiac emergency response plans. The HEARTS Act builds on these efforts, reinforcing a nationwide commitment to preparedness and helping ensure every school is ready to respond when cardiac emergencies occur.
