Washington Heart at the Capitol: Turning Passion into Policy for Healthier Communities

On January 22nd, 2026, the American Heart Association united its passionate Heart Powered advocates at the Washington State Capitol in Olympia for Heart at the Capitol Day, a day dedicated to raising voices for healthier lives and stronger communities. 44 advocates, along with Nick of Time, Project Adam, DP Foundation, Miss America Foundation, and MultiCare, came together to champion policies that prevent disease, improve health, and save lives.

Throughout the day, advocates met with 47 lawmakers and legislative staff to share why heart health matters and how smart policies can make a real difference. These conversations focused on Acute Cardiac Events in School, sparking meaningful dialogue about the role policy plays in creating environments where everyone has the opportunity to live longer, healthier lives. As a result of these meetings, one of our bill co-sponsors requested that a youth advocate testify during the committee to share her personal story of losing a friend to sudden cardiac arrest. This youth advocate was able to share her story with the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee when the bill was heard on January 28th, 2026.

The impact extended beyond the meetings themselves. As a result of these efforts, several legislators offered to speak with our bill sponsors and the chairs of the Education Committee in support of our CERPs legislation, demonstrating the powerful results that can be achieved when people come together to advocate for change.

One of the most powerful moments of the day came when Melinda Truax, a parent with the Nick of Time Foundation, shared the story of losing her son to sudden cardiac arrest. He collapsed during team practice, and although CPR was administered, no one retrieved an AED in time. An AED was not applied until seven minutes after he collapsed, and tragically, he did not survive. Her story is recorded on the Washington Smart Hearts Coalition webpage. Her experience served as a poignant reminder that behind every policy is a person, and that advocacy is about transforming personal loss into meaningful progress for others.

Washington Heart at the Capitol proved what’s possible when we unite to change the future of health: policies that protect hearts, prevent disease, and build healthier communities for generations to come.

Help us spread the word by liking and sharing our Facebook post.

Your voice matters—act now! Join American Heart Association Heart Powered and help shape policies that save lives. Visit https://heartpowered.org or text HEART to 46839 today to make an immediate impact.