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