ACC President Christopher M. Kramer, MD, FACC, testified before the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies on April 9, urging lawmakers to allocate full funding for the Cardiomyopathy Health Education, Awareness, Research, and Training in Schools (HEARTS) Act.

Passed by Congress last year with near-unanimous support, the legislation ensures that public elementary and secondary schools in the U.S. can develop cardiac emergency response plans, provide CPR and AED training to staff and have AEDs available on school property. In his testimony, Kramer highlighted how the law benefits all community members.

"While student athletes are the original focus of this bill, its benefits extend into the communities around them," he said. "Schools are a gathering point, a cornerstone in American public life. Having an AED nearby helps protect every person passing through a school setting, whether they are students, parents, educators or seniors."

Kramer also took this opportunity to reemphasize the value of investment in National Institutes of Health (NIH) research, describing the impact that NIH-funded projects have had in advancing the prevention, treatment and management of heart conditions. Considering the HEARTS Act "a worthy and impactful addition" to the country's leadership in medical research and progress, he called on lawmakers to provide the funding needed to make the resources promised by this law a reality.

"The HEARTS Act was passed by Congress with the unity and urgency this issue deserves," Kramer said. "Now, with your support, we can ensure effective nationwide implementation, protecting and investing in the health and safety of our communities." Read More.

Clinical Topics: Heart Failure and Cardiomyopathies, Sports and Exercise Cardiology

Keywords: Cardiology Magazine, ACC Publications, Health Policy, Health Education, Schools, Cardiomyopathies, Athletes