[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 189 (Tuesday, December 11, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H15245-H15247]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     NATIONAL CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION AND AUTOMATED EXTERNAL 
                      DEFIBRILLATOR AWARENESS WEEK

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 215) supporting the 
designation of a week as ``National Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and 
Automated External Defibrillator Awareness Week,'' as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.
  The text of the concurrent resolution is as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 215

       Whereas heart disease remains the leading cause of death in 
     the United States;
       Whereas heart disease affects men, women, and children of 
     every age and race in the United States, regardless of where 
     they live;
       Whereas annually approximately 325,000 coronary heart 
     disease deaths occur out of hospital or in an emergency room;
       Whereas approximately 95 percent of sudden cardiac arrest 
     victims die before arriving at the hospital;
       Whereas sudden cardiac arrest results from an abnormal 
     heart rhythm in most adults;
       Whereas in 27.4 percent of cases of sudden cardiac arrest, 
     the victim is located in a place other than a hospital and 
     receives

[[Page H15246]]

     cardiopulmonary resuscitation by a bystander;
       Whereas prompt delivery of cardiopulmonary resuscitation 
     more than doubles the chance of survival from sudden cardiac 
     arrest by helping to maintain vital blood flow to the heart 
     and brain, increasing the amount of time that an electric 
     shock from a defibrillator can be effective;
       Whereas an automated external defibrillator, even when used 
     by a bystander, is safe, easy to operate, and highly 
     effective in restoring a normal heart rhythm, significantly 
     increasing the chance of survival for many victims if used 
     immediately after the onset of sudden cardiac arrest;
       Whereas death or severe brain injury is likely to occur 
     unless resuscitation measures are started no later than 10 
     minutes after the onset of sudden cardiac arrest;
       Whereas the interval between the 911 call and the arrival 
     of EMS personnel is typically longer than 5 minutes, and 
     achieving high survival rates therefore depends on a public 
     trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automated 
     external defibrillator use; and
       Whereas the American Heart Association, the American Red 
     Cross, and the National Safety Council are preparing related 
     public awareness and training campaigns on cardiopulmonary 
     resuscitation and automated external defibrillation to be 
     held during the first week of June each year: Now, therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That the Congress--
       (1) supports the goals and ideals of a National 
     Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Automated External 
     Defibrillator Awareness Week to establish well-organized 
     programs to increase public training in cardiopulmonary 
     resuscitation and automated external defibrillator use and to 
     increase public access to automated external defibrillators; 
     and
       (2) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
     calling upon the people of the United States and interested 
     organizations to observe such a week with appropriate 
     ceremonies and activities.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Davis) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Issa) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois.


                             General Leave

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their 
remarks.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Illinois?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  First of all, I want to thank the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Clay) 
for standing in for me.
  As a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government 
Reform, I am pleased to join my colleagues in the consideration of H. 
Con. Res. 215, as amended, which supports the designation of ``National 
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Automated External Defibrillator 
Awareness Week.''
  H. Con. Res. 215, which was introduced by Representative John R. 
``Randy'' Kuhl, Jr. on September 19, 2007, was reported from the 
Oversight Committee on November 8, 2007, by voice vote. This measure 
has been cosponsored by 84 Members.
  Mr. Speaker, it is a sad statistic that 95 percent of sudden cardiac 
arrest victims die before reaching the hospital. Prompt CPR and use of 
an automated defibrillator, or AED, can more than double a victim's 
chance of surviving cardiac arrest. Seventy-five to 80 percent of all 
cardiac arrests occur within the home. Unfortunately, 60 percent of the 
public have never seen an automated external defibrillator, much less 
put it into use.
  It is time we do all that we can to raise awareness of these much-
needed emergency tools and urge training to combat heart disease at the 
community level.
  I commend the sponsor for introducing this measure, thank all the 
organizations throughout the country for their support, and urge swift 
passage of this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  The automated external defibrillator is a critical part of saving 
lives here in America. In the first 10 minutes of an onset of symptoms, 
you have an incredibly short period of time, that 10 minutes, to make 
the difference between life and death. A typical response time, an 
optimum response time, for a 911 call is 5 minutes. The availability of 
these devices, once thought to be only in the crash kit on an emergency 
vehicle or in a hospital, is now spreading. At our airports, including 
our Nation's Capital airports, these devices are not just available but 
they are hung throughout the facility, making it possible, and, in 
fact, it has occurred, for people who have a heart symptom and pass out 
to be brought back to life in those 10 minutes, those precious 10 
minutes. But in order to expand the use of this lifesaving apparatus, 
we need to have additional training.
  I join with the gentleman from Illinois in saying that the importance 
of this Automatic External Defibrillator Week is not that we can learn 
to say it without tying our tongue but, in fact, that we can deploy 
these devices and get people trained. In my own small condominium unit 
here in Washington, our neighbors have been trained; and it will 
undoubtedly in time save lives in our community.
  I join with the majority in urging that this bill not only become law 
this year but that we make this an annual event so as to spread the 
lifesaving capability of this device.
  Mr. GINGREY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Con. 
Res. 215, legislation that will designate a National Cardiopulmonary 
Resuscitation and Automated External Defibrillator Awareness Week. I am 
proud to be a cosponsor of this bill, and would like to thank my 
colleague, Mr. Randy Kuhl of New York, for advancing this legislation 
to help educate the American people about the critical difference 
cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automated external defibrillator 
training can make in our country.
  This legislation has been dear to Mr. Kuhl's heart after a young man 
in his area, Louis Acompora, died from a blunt impact to the chest 
while playing lacrosse. Had an automated external defibrillator been 
available at the time, his life might have been saved. I commend Mr. 
Kuhl's success as a New York State Senator in working with Assemblyman 
Harvey Weisenberg from Long Island to advance the New York State law 
requiring public schools to have at least one such device on school 
grounds. His hard work has helped save over 35 lives in New York State 
in the five years since the law's enactment.
  Mr. Speaker, heart disease kills more people in our Nation every year 
than any other medical condition. Sudden cardiac arrest is one of the 
most time sensitive cardiac conditions for which immediate attention is 
vital. If cardiopulmonary resuscitation and defibrillation are not 
applied within 5 minutes after sudden cardiac arrest, there is 
virtually no chance of survival. Approximately 325,000 Americans suffer 
sudden cardiac arrest each year and more than 95 percent die before 
ever reaching the hospital.
  Mr. Speaker, these statistics are staggering. Sadly, if more 
Americans were trained in performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation and 
in using automated external defibrillators, many of these lives could 
have been saved. Communities with comprehensive automated external 
defibrillator programs have improved survival rates from only 5 percent 
to over 40 percent.
  Mr. Speaker, this is why it is so critical that we pass H. Con. Res. 
215. Having a week dedicated to Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and 
Automated External Defibrillator awareness will increase the profile of 
this devastating disease, and most importantly, will help save lives. I 
encourage all my colleagues to support this important resolution.
  Mr. KUHL of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. 
Res. 215, which would support the designation of a week as National 
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Automated External Defibrillator 
Awareness Week.
  I would first like to thank my colleague, Mr. Boren from Oklahoma, 
for joining me in introducing I this resolution and for his efforts in 
promoting CPR. I am truly grateful for his leadership and support on 
this issue.
  I introduced this legislation because I believe that we must do all 
we can to bolster our efforts to combat heart disease and sudden 
cardiac arrest, as heart disease remains the leading cause of death in 
the United States. Approximately 325,000 coronary heart disease deaths 
occur outside of the hospital or in an emergency room every year, and 
roughly 95 percent of sudden cardiac arrest victims die before even 
reaching a hospital. These statistics serve as a clear reminder that we 
must take action to save lives at the local and community levels, and 
this resolution helps to do just that.
  CPR more than doubles a victim's chances of surviving sudden cardiac 
arrest by maintaining the vital flow of blood to the heart and the 
brain. Over 75 percent of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur within 
the home, so CPR can mean the difference between life and death.

[[Page H15247]]

  Additionally, automated external defibrillators are easy for even 
bystanders to operate and are highly effective in restoring a normal 
heart rhythm if used within minutes after the onset of sudden cardiac 
arrest. Communities with comprehensive AED programs have achieved 
survival rates of over 40 percent.
  I am proud to have sponsored the New York State law that required 
public schools to have at least one such device on school grounds. As a 
State Senator, I worked with State Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg to 
advance this initiative after a young man from his area, on Long 
Island, by the name of Louis Acompora died from a blunt impact to the 
chest while playing lacrosse. Had an AED been available at the time, 
his life might have been saved. Thankfully, our efforts have helped to 
save over 35 lives in New York State in the five years since the law's 
enactment.
  The American Heart Association, the American Red Cross, and the 
National Safety Council are preparing related public awareness and 
training campaigns to be held during the first week of June, and I am 
pleased to support this bill as a framework for their efforts.
  This resolution will help us to save lives across the country and 
combat heart disease at the community level. I urge my colleagues to 
join myself and Mr. Boren in supporting H. Con. Res. 215.
  Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 215, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution, as amended, was 
agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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