Arizona advocate goes to Capitol Hill

On October 28, nearly 150 HeartPowered™ advocates from 47 states gathered in Washington, D.C. for Hearts on the Hill, urging Congress to fund the HEARTS Act and ensure lifesaving CPR training and AEDs are available in schools. We’re especially proud and thankful for Dee Anne Thomas, who represented Arizona and passionately advocated for this critical mission. Her dedication to improving emergency preparedness in schools is deeply appreciated.

Back here in our home state of Arizona, we’re moving forward with legislation to require Cardiac Emergency Response Plans in schools as part of the organization’s Nation of Lifesavers™ movement. Draft legislation has been shared, and we’re working to secure bill sponsorship for the upcoming legislative session. This is a top priority for us this year, and we’re also reconnecting with the coalition and refining messaging to highlight how this bill builds on last year’s success.

Arizona’s Heart at the Capitol Lobby Day is scheduled for January 15. We will be sharing the RSVP link to join us soon. For Lobby Day, we’re also hoping to compile a document that highlights stories related to CPR and AEDs to share with lawmakers to show how this goes beyond athletics and why we need this to continue this work to cover all schools in Arizona. If you or someone you know would like their story featured, please share your story with us here.