AEDs in Schools Bill Passes U.S. House

On Monday, June 9, H.R. 4926, the Josh Miller HEARTS (Helping Everyone Access Responsive Treatment in Schools) Act passed the US House of Representatives. This legislation was introduced in the House by Congresswoman Betty Sutton (D-OH)(pictured at right with Dr. Terry Gordon) in December, 2007.

The Josh Miller HEARTS Act will establish a grant program through the Department of Education that will provide schools with funds for lifesaving AEDs and AED/CPR training. The legislation is modeled on the successful School AED Program recently completed in the state of Ohio, which has already saved 13 lives.

H.R. 4926 is named in memory of Josh Miller, a 15-year-old student from Sutton's hometown of Barberton, Ohio. Josh suffered a sudden cardiac arrest during the final game of the 2000 Barberton High School football season, but by the time his heart was shocked with an AED, it was too late to save him. The Josh Miller HEARTS Act will help prevent such tragedies.

"H.R. 4926 bears Josh Miller's name, but it is truly in memory of all those who might have been saved, and in celebration of those who, because of this program, will have the opportunity to live to their fullest potential," said Congresswoman Sutton. "AEDs are the single most effective treatment for those suffering a sudden cardiac arrest. By ensuring that schools have access to these lifesaving devices, we can prevent needless deaths in communities across the country."

Ken Miller, Josh Miller's father said: "We are very pleased that this bill has passed the House of Representatives. It certainly gives meaning to us for the tragic loss of our son, Josh. We wish to thank Congresswoman Sutton and all of those who have worked so hard on this initiative. Our hope and prayer is that no other family will ever endure the needless loss of a child, especially when it is preventable by a device as easy to use as an AED."

Dr. Terry Gordon, who spearheaded the School AED Program in Ohio, said: "Today's vote is for the thousands of children who have experienced sudden cardiac arrest and crossed over to the other side of life. Their sacrifice as well as that of their families has been the driving force of this initiative. With the Josh Miller HEARTS Act, we now have the ability to save the lives of our most precious resource, our children. As it is written in the Torah and the Koran: `If you can save one life, you can change the world.'"

Congresswoman Sutton and Dr. Gordon are both good friends of and strong advocates for United Way of Summit County, and through this project and so many others, the offer a shining example of how we can LIVE UNITED.

The Josh Miller HEARTS Act has 100 bipartisan cosponsors and has been endorsed by a broad coalition of organizations in education and public health, including the American College of Cardiology, American Heart Association, American Red Cross, American Federation of Teachers, Heart Rhythm Society, International Association of Fire Fighters, National Education Association, National Safety Council, Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association, and the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Coalition.