[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.
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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
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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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