Josh Miller Helping Everyone Access Responsive Treatment In Schools Act Of 2009

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. TONKO. I yield myself, Mr. Speaker, such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1380, the Josh Miller HEARTS Act. This is a bill that my colleague and friend from the neighboring State of Ohio has introduced that will save countless lives at a relatively low cost to taxpayers.

According to the American Heart Association, more than 200,000 Americans die of sudden cardiac arrest each year. Even more disturbing is the fact that 50,000 of these deaths could have been prevented with the use of an automated external defibrillator, or AED.

AEDs are portable devices used to restart the heart after sudden cardiac arrest. Studies have shown that these devices, which are required in Federal buildings and on airplanes, can be safely used by anyone, including children. Defibrillators talk the user through the lifesaving process and do not deliver a shock unless the heartbeat analyzed by the machine is in need of it.

Prompt response to a patient experiencing cardiac arrest is imperative, and waiting for EMS to arrive can be indeed fatal. Utilizing CPR techniques and administering an AED can more than double the victim's chances of surviving. A defibrillator shock is the most effective treatment for sudden cardiac arrest, and heart experts at Johns Hopkins University believe over 500 lives can be saved annually with the widespread placement of AEDs.

The legislation put forward today will go a long way towards saving lives in our Nation's schools. This bill establishes a grant program to place lifesaving defibrillators in every elementary and secondary school that chooses to participate in the program.

Additionally, the law would require recipients of these grants to train school staff in AED and CPR practices, coordinate with local paramedics, and integrate AEDs into existing medical emergency response plans. These provisions will save the lives of students, of teachers, of parents, staff and community members in our American schools. On any given day as much as 20 percent of the community's population passes through its schools, and it is our duty to ensure that these are safe places for our children to learn and for the community members to interact. Since schools are natural meeting places for the public, this bill can save the lives of countless children, teachers, parents and others. Similar legislation passed the House last year; and some States, such as Ohio and New York, are taking a leadership role in making an important difference. As a response to the tragic death of 15-year-old Josh Miller, Ohio instituted a program to place AEDs in schools. Since the inception of the program in 2005, 13 lives have been saved by defibrillators. Similarly, the New York program, in honor of 14-year-old Louis Acompora, has saved 38 lives since 2002.

I want to thank families like those of the Millers and the Acomporas whose hard work has brought national attention to this important issue. They have worked through their grief and, fueled by the tragic loss of a child, have toiled tirelessly to keep other parents from experiencing a similar loss. With passage of this bill, Congress has the opportunity to join these families and prevent future tragedies. Encouraging results and the many lives saved already demonstrates why we must pass this legislation. By putting in place preventative measures like those offered in this bill, we can save more lives.

Mr. Speaker, once again I express my support for H.R. 1380, and I thank Representative Sutton for her dedication to this cause. I urge my colleagues to pass this resolution sponsored by the Member of our House, Representative Sutton.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source