H.R. 5897

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5897 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5897

To amend title 23, United States Code, to improve access to automated 
external defibrillators at interstate transportation facilities, and 
for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

October 31, 2025

Mr. Van Drew (for himself and Ms. Gillen) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To amend title 23, United States Code, to improve access to automated 
external defibrillators at interstate transportation facilities, and 
for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Public Access to Defibrillation in 
Transportation Facilities Act of 2025''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS; SENSE OF CONGRESS.

(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) Sudden cardiac arrest (in this section referred to as 
``SCA'') is a leading cause of death in the United States, with 
an estimated 356,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occurring 
annually.
(2) Automated external defibrillators (in this section 
referred to as ``AEDs'') are a vital tool in responding to SCA, 
as they are capable of delivering a life-saving shock to 
restore the heart's natural rhythm.
(3) There is a need for quick response times in cases of 
SCA, as every minute that passes without defibrillation 
decreases the likelihood of survival by 7 to 10 percent.
(b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that Federal 
agencies, States, and municipalities should accelerate efforts to 
deploy AEDs in locations that are frequented by large crowds.

SEC. 3. EXPANSION OF SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM TO FUND 
AED DEPLOYMENT.

(a) In General.--Section 133(b) of title 23, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
``(25) Projects to purchase and deploy automated external 
defibrillators for use at transportation facilities otherwise 
eligible for assistance under this section.
``(26) Projects to develop and implement written emergency 
action plans for responding to medical emergencies at 
transportation facilities otherwise eligible for assistance 
under this section, including the use of automated external 
defibrillators.''.
(b) Technical Assistance.--The Secretary of Transportation, in 
consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the 
Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shall 
provide technical assistance to States and local officials in 
developing the written emergency action plans referred to in section 
133(b)(26) of title 23, United States Code (as added by subsection (a) 
of this section).

SEC. 4. DEPLOYMENT OF AEDS IN INTERSTATE TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES.

(a) In General.--The Secretary of Transportation, in consultation 
with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall issue--
(1) recommendations for the deployment of automated 
external defibrillators (in this section referred to as 
``AEDs'') at interstate transportation facilities based on best 
practices for the placement and maintenance of AEDs; and
(2) guidelines to assist any owner or operator of an 
interstate transportation facility in developing and 
implementing for such facility a written emergency action plan 
for responding to medical emergencies, including the use of 
AEDs.
(b) Technical Assistance.--The Secretary of Transportation shall 
provide technical assistance to owners and operators of interstate 
transportation facilities in complying with the recommendations and 
guidelines issued under subsection (a).
(c) Enforcement.--In carrying out financial assistance programs of 
the Department of Transportation, including its components, the 
Secretary of Transportation may impose such additional terms and 
conditions as the Secretary determines necessary to provide for 
adoption of the recommendations and guidelines issued under subsection 
(a).
(d) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Interstate system.--The term ``Interstate System'' has 
the meaning given such term in section 101 of title 23, United 
States Code.
(2) Interstate transportation facility.--The term 
``interstate transportation facility'' includes--
(A) a bus terminal, a ferry terminal, and a rail 
passenger transportation terminal;
(B) a highway rest area on the Interstate System;
(C) a vehicle used to provide rail passenger 
transportation, other than a vehicle used exclusively 
to provide transportation between station stops located 
within 15 minutes of each other (as determined using 
times established in public timetables); and
(D) such other facilities as the Secretary of 
Transportation determines appropriate.
(3) Rail passenger transportation.--The term ``rail 
passenger transportation'' includes transportation provided by 
a rail fixed guideway public transportation system, an 
intercity passenger rail system, or a commuter rail passenger 
transportation system that receives Federal assistance, as 
identified by the Secretary of Transportation.

SEC. 5. EFFECTIVE DATE.

This Act, and the amendments made by this Act, shall apply 
beginning on the date that is 180 days after the date of enactment of 
this Act.
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