From the Heartland to the Hill: Advocating for AEDs in Schools

Early last week, 150 American Heart Association Heart Powered advocates from 47 states traveled to Washington, D.C., to use their voices to urge lawmakers to fund the HEARTS Act.

The HEARTS Act is a bipartisan bill that authorized the creation of a federal grant program to equip schools across the country to respond to cardiac emergencies by helping them purchase and maintain AEDs and train students and school staff in CPR. The bill passed unanimously in 2024, but funding was not included. The American Heart Association Heart Powered advocates came to D.C. to meet with their representatives in the House and Senate and urge them to fund this essential program in 2026.

An estimated 23,000 children under age 18 experience cardiac arrest outside of a hospital annually, and approximately 40% of those incidents occur during sports play. In schools with AEDs, the cardiac arrest survival rate is nearly 70%.

Our 26 incredible advocates from the Midwest shared their stories from a variety of perspectives: from school nurses to cardiologists to sudden cardiac arrest survivors.

Kwonjae Lee, a medical student in Illinois, said this about the event:

The fly-in was an amazing experience, and the most impactful part was hearing the stories from fellow advocates. It is easy to see the statistics of people who suffer from sudden cardiac arrest and detach them from human experience. By hearing the stories of people of all ages who have either personally experienced or had a family member experience sudden cardiac arrest, advocating for funding for national change through the HEARTS Act became a more personal issue.

Mark Altomare, a sudden cardiac survivor from Michigan, shared his thoughts:

The thing that made the biggest impact on me was meeting with my fellow volunteers and members of AHA. Spending time together, sharing stories, and breaking bread with people who have shared such powerful experiences was really moving.

The part I enjoyed the most was the “downtime.” The time we spent in between meetings walking around the Capitol, enjoying each other’s company, the weather, and the historic sites. And it was especially cool navigating the tunnels under the House and Senate buildings, occasionally bumping into a few fairly well-known political figures.

Julie West, mother of Jake West who passed away from a sudden cardiac arrest in 2013 and founder of The Play for Jake Foundation, had this to add about her experience in D.C.:

The most impactful part of the fly-in was meeting directly with decision-makers to share Jake’s story and how Jake’s Law in Indiana aligns with the HEARTS Act. Seeing how our advocacy could influence lifesaving policies was powerful. I truly enjoyed connecting with other passionate advocates—the unity and purpose we shared were inspiring and renewed my motivation to keep pushing for change.

Katie Hawke, mother of Keegan Hawke who survived a sudden cardiac arrest during football practice in Minnesota, said this about their time on Capitol Hill:

Without question, the most meaningful aspect was connecting with families from across the country who share a story similar to Keegan’s. Listening to the journeys of other young people who have faced comparable challenges was transformative for both of us! This experience has reignited our commitment to advocate for stronger policies, improved legislation, and increased funding—so that others who face similar circumstances can have outcomes as favorable as Keegan’s

Now is the time to tell your elected officials to fund the HEARTS Act, text “AED” to 46839.

Hear from more of our Midwest advocates in the video below!