Cardiomyopathy Health Education, Awareness, and Research, and AED Training in the Schools Act of 2024 or the HEARTS Act of 2024
This act establishes a series of programs and requirements relating to cardiomyopathy. (Cardiomyopathy refers to a collection of diverse conditions of the heart muscle that can affect the ability of the heart to pump blood.)
Specifically, the Department of Health and Human Services must disseminate information about cardiomyopathy and the use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to certain school professionals, families, and others, and it must develop specified risk assessment tools for cardiomyopathy. In addition, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention must report on certain research and surveillance activities, and the National Institutes of Health must report on its research relating to cardiomyopathy.
The act also establishes a grant program to provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training and AEDs in public schools.
[118th Congress Public Law 176]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[[Page 138 STAT. 2605]]
Public Law 118-176
118th Congress
An Act
To amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize and support the
creation and dissemination of cardiomyopathy education, awareness, and
risk assessment materials and resources to identify more at-risk
families, to authorize research and surveillance activities relating to
cardiomyopathy, and for other purposes. <<NOTE: Dec. 23, 2024 - [H.R.
6829]>>
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: Cardiomyopathy
Health Education, Awareness, and Research, and AED Training in the
Schools Act of 2024.>>
SECTION 1. <<NOTE: 42 USC 201 note.>> SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Cardiomyopathy Health Education,
Awareness, and Research, and AED Training in the Schools Act of 2024''
or the ``HEARTS Act of 2024''.
SEC. 2. CARDIOMYOPATHY HEALTH EDUCATION, AWARENESS, AND RESEARCH,
AND AED TRAINING IN SCHOOLS.
(a) Amendment.--The Public Health Service Act is amended by
inserting after section 312 (42 U.S.C. 244) the following:
``SEC. 312A. <<NOTE: Deadlines. 42 USC 244a.>> MATERIALS AND
RESOURCES TO INCREASE EDUCATION AND
AWARENESS OF CARDIOMYOPATHY AMONG SCHOOL
ADMINISTRATORS, EDUCATORS, AND FAMILIES.
``(a) Materials and Resources.--Not later than 18 months after the
date of the enactment of the HEARTS Act of 2024, the Secretary, in
consultation with the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, shall develop public education materials and resources to be
disseminated to school administrators, educators, school health
professionals, coaches, families, guardians, caregivers, and other
appropriate individuals. The materials and resources shall include--
``(1) information on the signs, symptoms, and risk factors
associated with high-risk cardiac conditions and genetic heart
rhythm abnormalities that may cause sudden cardiac arrest in
children, adolescents, and young adults, including--
``(A) cardiomyopathy;
``(B) long QT syndrome, Brugada syndrome,
catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia,
short QT syndrome, and Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome;
and
``(C) other high-risk cardiac conditions, as
determined by the Secretary;
``(2) <<NOTE: Guidelines.>> guidelines regarding the
placement of automated external defibrillators in schools, early
childhood education programs, and child care centers;
``(3) training information on automated external
defibrillators and cardiopulmonary resuscitation; and
[[Page 138 STAT. 2606]]
``(4) <<NOTE: Recommenda- tions.>> recommendations for how
schools, early childhood education programs, and child care
centers can develop and implement a cardiac emergency response
plan.
``(b) Dissemination of Materials and Resources.--Not later than 30
months after the date of the enactment of the HEARTS Act of 2024, the
Secretary shall disseminate the materials and resources developed under
subsection (a) in accordance with the following:
``(1) Distribution by state educational agencies.--The
Secretary shall make available such materials and resources to
State educational agencies to distribute--
``(A) to school administrators, educators, school
health professionals, coaches, families, guardians,
caregivers, and other appropriate individuals, the
information developed under subsection (a)(1);
``(B) to parents, guardians, or other caregivers,
the cardiomyopathy risk assessment developed pursuant to
section 312B(b)(1); and
``(C) to school administrators, educators, school
health professionals, and coaches--
``(i) the guidelines described in subsection
(a)(2);
``(ii) the training information described in
subsection (a)(3); and
``(iii) the recommendations described in
subsection (a)(4).
``(2) Dissemination to health departments and
professionals.--The Secretary shall make available the materials
and resources developed under subsection (a) to State and local
health departments, pediatricians, hospitals, and other health
professionals, such as nurses and first responders.
``(3) <<NOTE: Public information.>> Posting on website.--
``(A) CDC.--
``(i) In general.--The Secretary, through the
Director, shall post the materials and resources
developed under subsection (a) on the public
Internet website of the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention.
``(ii) Additional information.--The Director
is encouraged to maintain on such public Internet
website such additional information regarding
cardiomyopathy as deemed appropriate by the
Director.
``(B) State educational agencies.--State educational
agencies are encouraged to create public Internet
webpages dedicated to cardiomyopathy and post the
materials and resources developed under subsection (a)
on such webpages.
``(c) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) The term `cardiomyopathy' means a heart disease that
affects the heart's muscle (myocardium)--
``(A) the symptoms of which may vary from case to
case, including--
``(i) cases in which no symptoms are present
(asymptomatic); and
``(ii) cases in which there are symptoms of a
progressive condition that may result from an
impaired ability of the heart to pump blood, such
as fatigue, irregular heartbeats (arrhythmia),
heart failure, and, potentially, sudden cardiac
death; and
[[Page 138 STAT. 2607]]
``(B) the recognized types of which include dilated,
hypertrophic, restrictive, arrhythmogenic right
ventricular dysplasia, and left ventricular non-
compaction.
``(2) The term `Director' means the Director of the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention.
``(3) The terms `early childhood education program',
`elementary school', and `secondary school' have the meanings
given to those terms in section 8101 of the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act of 1965.
``(4) The term `school administrator' means a principal,
director, manager, or other supervisor or leader within an
elementary school, secondary school, State-based early childhood
education program, or child care center.
``(5) The term `school health professional' means a health
professional serving at an elementary school, secondary school,
State-based early childhood education program, or child care
center.
``SEC. 312B. <<NOTE: 42 USC 244b.>> ACTIVITIES RELATING TO
CARDIOMYOPATHY.
``(a) Report on CDC National Cardiomyopathy Activities.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than 18 months after the date
of the enactment of the HEARTS Act of 2024, the Secretary,
acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention, shall submit to Congress a report on findings
generated from existing activities conducted by the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention to improve the understanding of
the prevalence and epidemiology of cardiomyopathy across the
lifespan, from birth to adulthood, with particular interest in
the following:
``(A) The natural history of individuals with
cardiomyopathy, in both the pediatric and adult
population.
``(B) <<NOTE: Estimates.>> Estimates of
cardiomyopathy-related emergency department visits and
hospitalizations, in both the pediatric and adult
population.
``(2) Public access.--Subject to paragraph (3), the report
submitted under this subsection shall be made available to the
public.
``(3) Privacy protections.--The Secretary shall ensure that
this subsection is carried out in a manner that complies with
all applicable privacy laws under Federal and State law.
``(b) Improving Risk Assessments for Individuals With
Cardiomyopathy.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall develop and make
publicly available a cardiomyopathy risk assessment for health
care providers and individuals. Such risk assessment shall, at a
minimum, include the following:
``(A) Background information on the prevalence,
incidence, and health impact of cardiomyopathy,
including all forms of cardiomyopathy and their effects
on pediatric, adolescent, and adult individuals.
``(B) A worksheet with variables and conditions for
an individual or health care provider to use in
assessing whether an individual is at risk for
cardiomyopathy.
``(C) A worksheet with variables and stages of
progression for an individual or health care provider to
use in assessing whether and to what extent
cardiomyopathy has progressed in an individual.
[[Page 138 STAT. 2608]]
``(D) <<NOTE: Guidelines.>> Guidelines on
cardiomyopathy screenings for individuals who are at
risk for, or have a family history of, cardiomyopathy.
``(2) Stakeholder input.--In carrying out paragraph (1), the
Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shall
seek input from external stakeholders including--
``(A) representatives from national patient advocacy
organizations expert in all forms of cardiomyopathy;
``(B) representatives from medical professional
societies that specialize in the care of adults and
pediatrics with cardiomyopathy; and
``(C) representatives from other relevant Federal
agencies.
``(c) Definition.--In this section, the term `cardiomyopathy' has
the meaning given to such term in section 312A.
``SEC. <<NOTE: 42 USC 244c.>> 312C. CARDIOMYOPATHY RESEARCH.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary, in consultation with the Director
of the National Institutes of Health, may expand and coordinate research
and related activities of the National Institutes of Health with respect
to cardiomyopathy, which may include research with respect to--
``(1) causation of cardiomyopathy, including genetic causes
and molecular biomarkers;
``(2) long-term health outcomes in individuals with
cardiomyopathy, including infants, children, teenagers, adults,
and elderly individuals; and
``(3) studies using longitudinal data and retrospective
analysis to identify effective treatments and outcomes for
individuals with cardiomyopathy.
``(b) Nonduplication.--The Secretary shall ensure that any research
and activities related to cardiomyopathy under this section do not
unnecessarily duplicate activities, programs, or efforts of other
agencies and offices within the Department of Health and Human Services.
``(c) NIH Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date of the
enactment of the HEARTS Act of 2024, the Secretary, in consultation with
the Director of the National Institutes of Health, shall submit to
Congress a report--
``(1) outlining the ongoing research efforts of the National
Institutes of Health regarding cardiomyopathy; and
``(2) identifying--
``(A) a research agenda regarding adult forms of
cardiomyopathy;
``(B) plans for researching cardiomyopathy affecting
the pediatric population; and
``(C) the areas of greatest need for such research.
``(d) Cardiomyopathy Defined.--In this section, the term
`cardiomyopathy' has the meaning given to such term in section 312A.
``SEC. <<NOTE: Grants. 42 USC 244d.>> 312D. PROMOTING STUDENT
ACCESS TO AEDS AND CPR.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary may award grants to eligible
entities to develop and implement a comprehensive program to promote
student access to automated external defibrillators (in this section
referred to as `AEDs') and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (in this
section referred to as `CPR') in public elementary schools and secondary
schools.
[[Page 138 STAT. 2609]]
``(b) Use of Funds.--An eligible entity receiving a grant under
subsection (a) may use funds received through such grant to carry out
any of the following activities:
``(1) Developing and providing comprehensive materials to
establish AED and CPR programs in public elementary schools and
secondary schools.
``(2) Providing support for CPR and AED training programs in
such schools for students, staff, and related sports volunteers.
``(3) Providing support for developing a cardiac emergency
response plan within such schools.
``(4) Purchasing AEDs that have been approved under section
515 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, cleared under
section 510(k) of such Act, or classified under section
513(f)(2) of such Act.
``(5) Purchasing necessary AED batteries and performing
necessary AED maintenance (such as by replacing AED pads) in
accordance with the labeling of the AED involved.
``(6) Replacing old and outdated AED and CPR equipment,
machinery, and educational materials.
``(c) Eligibility; Application.--To be eligible for a grant under
subsection (a), an entity shall--
``(1) be a local educational agency (including a public
charter school operating as a local educational agency under
State law), in consultation with a qualified health care entity;
and
``(2) submit to the Secretary an application at such time,
in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary
may reasonably require.
``(d) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) ESEA terms.--The terms `elementary school', `local
educational agency', and `secondary school' have the meanings
given such terms in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act of 1965.
``(2) Qualified health care entity.--The term `qualified
health care entity' means a health care entity that--
``(A) is--
``(i) a public entity; or
``(ii) an organization that is described in
section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986 and exempt from taxation under section 501(a)
of such Code;
``(B) demonstrates an ability to develop, train, and
implement a comprehensive program to promote student
access to defibrillation in public elementary and
secondary schools; and
``(C) is qualified in providing technical assistance
in AED and CPR training.''.
(b) No Additional Funds.--No additional funds are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out sections 312A, 312B, 312C, and
[[Page 138 STAT. 2610]]
312D of the Public Health Service Act, as inserted by subsection (a).
Approved December 23, 2024.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 6829:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 118-520 (Comm. on Energy and Commerce).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 170 (2024):
Sept. 23, considered and passed House.
Dec. 10, considered and passed Senate.
<all>
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 118-520.
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 432.
Mr. Bucshon moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5573-5575)
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6829.
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5573-5574)
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5573-5574)
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions discharged by Unanimous Consent.
Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions discharged by Unanimous Consent.
Enacted as Public Law 118-176
Llama 3.2 · runs locally in your browser
Ask anything about this bill. The AI reads the full text to answer.
Enter to send · Shift+Enter for new line
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S6934-6935)
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Presented to President.
Presented to President.
Signed by President.
Signed by President.
Became Public Law No: 118-176.
Became Public Law No: 118-176.