August Recess, Real Impact: Volunteers Advocate for Lifesaving Legislation

Every August, Congress goes into recess, which means lawmakers are back in their home states and often more available to meet with constituents. This creates a great opportunity for volunteers like yourself to connect directly with elected officials and share why our mission matters.

Over the past month, advocates across the Midwest met with their representatives to talk about two key American Heart Association priorities: medical research funding and funding for the HEARTS Act.

In Illinois, cardiac arrest survivor Heather Baker met with Senator Dick Durbin’s office to discuss the HEARTS Act. She shared:

“As a survivor, I know firsthand how critical awareness and access to life-saving resources are. Meeting with my senator’s staff gave me the chance to make sudden cardiac arrest more than just statistics—it became personal for them. I left that meeting feeling hopeful and empowered. I encourage every volunteer to take this step—you never know how your story might change a decision-maker’s heart.“

In North Dakota, American Heart Association Heart Powered advocates Mary Reiser and Amy Heuer met with a representative from Senator Hoeven’s office to talk about the importance of research funding for the NIH and funding for the HEARTS Act. “I felt like we were heard, and that she felt what we were asking for made a lot of sense,” Amy said.

In Michigan, cardiac arrest survivor Mark Altomare met with Senator Peters’ staff to share his story. The staff member was not familiar with the HEARTS Act and was struck by the difference in survival rates for sudden cardiac arrest in schools – over 7x better chance of survival – when AEDs are available. About the meeting, Mark said “I’m not sure this meeting could have gone much better.”

In Missouri, survivor Shari Taylor shared her story to a staff member of Representative Mark Alford’s staff and inspired them to schedule CPR training for their entire office!

These meetings are a powerful reminder that your voice matters. American Heart Association Heart Powered advocates play a vital role in shaping policies that save lives—from securing funding for medical research to ensuring AEDs and CPR training are available in schools. When you share your story, you help turn statistics into action and inspire change that protects families and communities across the country.