[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 133 (Wednesday, September 16, 2015)]
[House]
[Page H5986]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               CHILDREN'S CARDIOMYOPATHY AWARENESS MONTH

  (Mrs. CAPPS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize September as 
Children's Cardiomyopathy Awareness Month.
  Cardiomyopathy is a chronic disease of the heart muscle that 
increases the risk of sudden cardiac arrest, which is a condition that 
claims approximately 295,000 lives in the United States every year. It 
is also the leading cause of death among schoolchildren.
  That is one reason I introduced the SAFE PLAY Act, which would 
improve the health and safety of student athletes, including those who 
are diagnosed with cardiomyopathy.
  We know that, when sudden cardiac arrest hits, quick intervention 
saves lives. That is why the SAFE PLAY Act includes provisions to teach 
students across the country the life-saving skills of CPR and how to 
use AEDs.
  As we recognize Children's Cardiomyopathy Awareness Month, I want to 
invite my colleagues and their staffs to the second annual AED Hunt on 
the Hill, taking place tomorrow at 4 p.m. in the afternoon. There you 
can learn more about cardiomyopathy, how AEDs save lives, and how the 
SAFE PLAY Act can help. Together, we can make a difference.

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