[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 148 (Monday, September 23, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H5573-H5575]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
{time} 1445
CARDIOMYOPATHY HEALTH EDUCATION, AWARENESS, AND RESEARCH, AND AED
TRAINING IN THE SCHOOLS ACT OF 2024
Mr. BUCSHON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 6829) to amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize
and support the creation and dissemination of cardiomyopathy education,
awareness, and risk assessment materials and resources to identify more
at-risk families, to authorize research and surveillance activities
relating to cardiomyopathy, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 6829
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Cardiomyopathy Health
Education, Awareness, and Research, and AED Training in the
Schools Act of 2024'' or the ``HEARTS Act of 2024''.
SEC. 2. CARDIOMYOPATHY HEALTH EDUCATION, AWARENESS, AND
RESEARCH, AND AED TRAINING IN SCHOOLS.
(a) Amendment.--The Public Health Service Act is amended by
inserting after section 312 (42 U.S.C. 244) the following:
``SEC. 312A. MATERIALS AND RESOURCES TO INCREASE EDUCATION
AND AWARENESS OF CARDIOMYOPATHY AMONG SCHOOL
ADMINISTRATORS, EDUCATORS, AND FAMILIES.
``(a) Materials and Resources.--Not later than 18 months
after the date of the enactment of the HEARTS Act of 2024,
the Secretary, in consultation with the Director of the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shall develop
public education materials and resources to be disseminated
to school administrators, educators, school health
professionals, coaches, families, guardians, caregivers, and
other appropriate individuals. The materials and resources
shall include--
``(1) information on the signs, symptoms, and risk factors
associated with high-risk cardiac conditions and genetic
heart rhythm abnormalities that may cause sudden cardiac
arrest in children, adolescents, and young adults,
including--
``(A) cardiomyopathy;
``(B) long QT syndrome, Brugada syndrome, catecholaminergic
polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, short QT syndrome, and
Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome; and
``(C) other high-risk cardiac conditions, as determined by
the Secretary;
``(2) guidelines regarding the placement of automated
external defibrillators in schools, early childhood education
programs, and child care centers;
``(3) training information on automated external
defibrillators and cardiopulmonary resuscitation; and
``(4) recommendations for how schools, early childhood
education programs, and child care centers can develop and
implement a cardiac emergency response plan.
``(b) Dissemination of Materials and Resources.--Not later
than 30 months after the date of the enactment of the HEARTS
Act of 2024, the Secretary shall disseminate the materials
and resources developed under subsection (a) in accordance
with the following:
``(1) Distribution by state educational agencies.--The
Secretary shall make available such materials and resources
to State educational agencies to distribute--
``(A) to school administrators, educators, school health
professionals, coaches, families, guardians, caregivers, and
other appropriate individuals, the information developed
under subsection (a)(1);
``(B) to parents, guardians, or other caregivers, the
cardiomyopathy risk assessment developed pursuant to section
312B(b)(1); and
``(C) to school administrators, educators, school health
professionals, and coaches--
``(i) the guidelines described in subsection (a)(2);
``(ii) the training information described in subsection
(a)(3); and
``(iii) the recommendations described in subsection (a)(4).
``(2) Dissemination to health departments and
professionals.--The Secretary shall make available the
materials and resources developed under subsection (a) to
State and local health departments, pediatricians, hospitals,
and other health professionals, such as nurses and first
responders.
``(3) Posting on website.--
``(A) CDC.--
``(i) In general.--The Secretary, through the Director,
shall post the materials and resources developed under
subsection (a) on the public Internet website of the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention.
``(ii) Additional information.--The Director is encouraged
to maintain on such public Internet website such additional
information regarding cardiomyopathy as deemed appropriate by
the Director.
``(B) State educational agencies.--State educational
agencies are encouraged to create public Internet webpages
dedicated to cardiomyopathy and post the materials and
resources developed under subsection (a) on such webpages.
``(c) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) The term `cardiomyopathy' means a heart disease that
affects the heart's muscle (myocardium)--
``(A) the symptoms of which may vary from case to case,
including--
``(i) cases in which no symptoms are present
(asymptomatic); and
``(ii) cases in which there are symptoms of a progressive
condition that may result from an impaired ability of the
heart to pump blood, such as fatigue, irregular heartbeats
(arrhythmia), heart failure, and, potentially, sudden cardiac
death; and
``(B) the recognized types of which include dilated,
hypertrophic, restrictive, arrhythmogenic right ventricular
dysplasia, and left ventricular non-compaction.
``(2) The term `Director' means the Director of the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention.
``(3) The terms `early childhood education program',
`elementary school', and `secondary school' have the meanings
given to those terms in section 8101 of the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act of 1965.
``(4) The term `school administrator' means a principal,
director, manager, or other supervisor or leader within an
elementary school, secondary school, State-based early
childhood education program, or child care center.
``(5) The term `school health professional' means a health
professional serving at an elementary school, secondary
school, State-based early childhood education program, or
child care center.
[[Page H5574]]
``SEC. 312B. ACTIVITIES RELATING TO CARDIOMYOPATHY.
``(a) Report on CDC National Cardiomyopathy Activities.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than 18 months after the date
of the enactment of the HEARTS Act of 2024, the Secretary,
acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, shall submit to Congress a report on
findings generated from existing activities conducted by the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to improve the
understanding of the prevalence and epidemiology of
cardiomyopathy across the lifespan, from birth to adulthood,
with particular interest in the following:
``(A) The natural history of individuals with
cardiomyopathy, in both the pediatric and adult population.
``(B) Estimates of cardiomyopathy-related emergency
department visits and hospitalizations, in both the pediatric
and adult population.
``(2) Public access.--Subject to paragraph (3), the report
submitted under this subsection shall be made available to
the public.
``(3) Privacy protections.--The Secretary shall ensure that
this subsection is carried out in a manner that complies with
all applicable privacy laws under Federal and State law.
``(b) Improving Risk Assessments for Individuals With
Cardiomyopathy.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall develop and make
publicly available a cardiomyopathy risk assessment for
health care providers and individuals. Such risk assessment
shall, at a minimum, include the following:
``(A) Background information on the prevalence, incidence,
and health impact of cardiomyopathy, including all forms of
cardiomyopathy and their effects on pediatric, adolescent,
and adult individuals.
``(B) A worksheet with variables and conditions for an
individual or health care provider to use in assessing
whether an individual is at risk for cardiomyopathy.
``(C) A worksheet with variables and stages of progression
for an individual or health care provider to use in assessing
whether and to what extent cardiomyopathy has progressed in
an individual.
``(D) Guidelines on cardiomyopathy screenings for
individuals who are at risk for, or have a family history of,
cardiomyopathy.
``(2) Stakeholder input.--In carrying out paragraph (1),
the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention shall seek input from external stakeholders
including--
``(A) representatives from national patient advocacy
organizations expert in all forms of cardiomyopathy;
``(B) representatives from medical professional societies
that specialize in the care of adults and pediatrics with
cardiomyopathy; and
``(C) representatives from other relevant Federal agencies.
``(c) Definition.--In this section, the term
`cardiomyopathy' has the meaning given to such term in
section 312A.
``SEC. 312C. CARDIOMYOPATHY RESEARCH.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary, in consultation with the
Director of the National Institutes of Health, may expand and
coordinate research and related activities of the National
Institutes of Health with respect to cardiomyopathy, which
may include research with respect to--
``(1) causation of cardiomyopathy, including genetic causes
and molecular biomarkers;
``(2) long-term health outcomes in individuals with
cardiomyopathy, including infants, children, teenagers,
adults, and elderly individuals; and
``(3) studies using longitudinal data and retrospective
analysis to identify effective treatments and outcomes for
individuals with cardiomyopathy.
``(b) Nonduplication.--The Secretary shall ensure that any
research and activities related to cardiomyopathy under this
section do not unnecessarily duplicate activities, programs,
or efforts of other agencies and offices within the
Department of Health and Human Services.
``(c) NIH Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date
of the enactment of the HEARTS Act of 2024, the Secretary, in
consultation with the Director of the National Institutes of
Health, shall submit to Congress a report--
``(1) outlining the ongoing research efforts of the
National Institutes of Health regarding cardiomyopathy; and
``(2) identifying--
``(A) a research agenda regarding adult forms of
cardiomyopathy;
``(B) plans for researching cardiomyopathy affecting the
pediatric population; and
``(C) the areas of greatest need for such research.
``(d) Cardiomyopathy Defined.--In this section, the term
`cardiomyopathy' has the meaning given to such term in
section 312A.
``SEC. 312D. PROMOTING STUDENT ACCESS TO AEDS AND CPR.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary may award grants to
eligible entities to develop and implement a comprehensive
program to promote student access to automated external
defibrillators (in this section referred to as `AEDs') and
cardiopulmonary resuscitation (in this section referred to as
`CPR') in public elementary schools and secondary schools.
``(b) Use of Funds.--An eligible entity receiving a grant
under subsection (a) may use funds received through such
grant to carry out any of the following activities:
``(1) Developing and providing comprehensive materials to
establish AED and CPR programs in public elementary schools
and secondary schools.
``(2) Providing support for CPR and AED training programs
in such schools for students, staff, and related sports
volunteers.
``(3) Providing support for developing a cardiac emergency
response plan within such schools.
``(4) Purchasing AEDs that have been approved under section
515 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, cleared
under section 510(k) of such Act, or classified under section
513(f)(2) of such Act.
``(5) Purchasing necessary AED batteries and performing
necessary AED maintenance (such as by replacing AED pads) in
accordance with the labeling of the AED involved.
``(6) Replacing old and outdated AED and CPR equipment,
machinery, and educational materials.
``(c) Eligibility; Application.--To be eligible for a grant
under subsection (a), an entity shall--
``(1) be a local educational agency (including a public
charter school operating as a local educational agency under
State law), in consultation with a qualified health care
entity; and
``(2) submit to the Secretary an application at such time,
in such manner, and containing such information as the
Secretary may reasonably require.
``(d) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) ESEA terms.--The terms `elementary school', `local
educational agency', and `secondary school' have the meanings
given such terms in section 8101 of the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act of 1965.
``(2) Qualified health care entity.--The term `qualified
health care entity' means a health care entity that--
``(A) is--
``(i) a public entity; or
``(ii) an organization that is described in section 501(c)
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from taxation
under section 501(a) of such Code;
``(B) demonstrates an ability to develop, train, and
implement a comprehensive program to promote student access
to defibrillation in public elementary and secondary schools;
and
``(C) is qualified in providing technical assistance in AED
and CPR training.''.
(b) No Additional Funds.--No additional funds are
authorized to be appropriated to carry out sections 312A,
312B, 312C, and 312D of the Public Health Service Act, as
inserted by subsection (a).
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Indiana (Mr. Bucshon) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Indiana.
General Leave
Mr. BUCSHON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks
and insert extraneous material into the Record on the bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Indiana?
There was no objection.
Mr. BUCSHON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6829, the Cardiomyopathy
Health Education, Awareness, and Research, and AED Training in the
Schools Act, or the HEARTS Act, of 2024, led by Committee on Energy and
Commerce Ranking Member Frank Pallone.
In the United States, more than 30,000 children are diagnosed with
some form of cardiomyopathy, and more than 2,000 children and
adolescents die from a sudden cardiac event each year.
Research and experience have shown that immediate use of an automated
external defibrillator, or AED, for short, or CPR can double or triple
an individual's chance of survival.
The HEARTS Act of 2024 would authorize and support programs to
coordinate related research, promote access to AEDs and CPR training,
and raise public awareness of cardiomyopathy within schools, local
health departments, and communities.
Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak in support of H.R. 6829, the HEARTS Act.
I am proud to have sponsored this legislation, which is inspired by two
New Jersey families who each tragically lost a child to sudden cardiac
arrest during high school sporting events.
Sadly, more than 2,000 children and adolescents die this way,
unfortunately, every single year, and the bill aims to prevent future
deaths of cardiac arrest by preparing schools to respond to cardiac
emergencies when they occur.
[[Page H5575]]
It directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop
guidelines on the placement of automated external defibrillators, or
AEDs, in schools and to provide resources to help schools create and
implement cardiac emergency response plans.
The legislation also supports CPR education and training among
students, school personnel, coaches, and volunteers. It would also
support the development of cardiac emergency response plans, which,
along with AEDs and CPR, are integral to a coordinated, immediate, and
effective response in the crucial minutes between the time when a
victim collapses and when emergency medical services arrive.
The HEARTS Act will raise awareness about the causes of sudden
cardiac arrest and ensure schools are more prepared to deal with
cardiac emergencies so we can save lives. This legislation has the
support of the American Heart Association and the Smart Heart
Coalition, among others.
It is my hope the Senate will consider this legislation and restore
the authorization level, which we reluctantly were required to remove
in order to get this bill before us today to comply with the Speaker's
CutGo protocol. The Speaker's protocol, in my opinion, is arbitrary,
selectively enforced, and ill-advised because it hampers our ability to
address the pressing public health issues of the day.
I am disappointed that although the bill as originally written was
cleared in committee on a bipartisan basis with the funding
authorization, the House Republican leadership reversed course and
determined before floor consideration that it was not in compliance
with the Speaker's protocol.
We are, nonetheless, moving forward today because we believe it is
imperative to move this policy forward for the parents and student
athletes who have suffered from this sudden cardiac arrest, and I
remain committed to ensuring the enduring success of this program and
to seek funding for it.
I thank Chair Rodgers for working closely with me on the legislation,
as well as the New Jersey families who shared their stories with me and
have advocated tirelessly for safer cardiac health and resources in our
schools.
Mr. Speaker, I urge strong support for the bill, and I thank all the
members of our committee for reporting this bill out on a bipartisan
basis. It is important for our kids.
Mr. Speaker, I ask everyone to vote in support of the bill, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. BUCSHON. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I encourage a ``yes'' vote on
this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Bucshon) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 6829, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________