HR5897-119

What This Bill Does

The Public Access to Defibrillation in Transportation Facilities Act of 2025 responds to sudden cardiac arrest in transportation settings. Congress finds that sudden cardiac arrest causes about 356,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests annually, that automated external defibrillators can deliver life-saving shocks, and that each minute without defibrillation lowers survival likelihood by 7 to 10 percent. The bill expands eligible surface transportation block grant projects to include purchasing and deploying AEDs at eligible transportation facilities and developing written emergency action plans for medical emergencies at those facilities. DOT, in consultation with HHS and CDC, must provide technical assistance to States and local officials developing those plans. DOT, in consultation with HHS, must also issue recommendations for AED deployment at interstate transportation facilities based on placement and maintenance best practices, issue guidelines for owners and operators to develop emergency action plans, provide technical assistance to owners and operators, and may attach additional terms and conditions to DOT financial assistance to promote adoption. Covered interstate transportation facilities include bus terminals, ferry terminals, rail passenger terminals, Interstate System highway rest areas, certain rail passenger vehicles, and other DOT-designated facilities.

Who Benefits and How

Travelers in bus terminals, ferry terminals, rail passenger terminals, highway rest areas, and covered rail vehicles benefit from better access to AEDs during sudden cardiac arrest. States and local officials benefit because surface transportation block grant funds can support AED deployment and emergency action plans. Owners and operators of interstate transportation facilities benefit from DOT guidelines and technical assistance on AED placement, maintenance, and emergency response. AED manufacturers and service vendors benefit from expanded transportation grant eligibility for purchasing and deploying defibrillators. Emergency responders benefit when transportation facilities have written emergency action plans and accessible devices before responders arrive.

Who Bears the Burden and How

DOT program staff must administer new eligible project categories, issue recommendations and guidelines, provide technical assistance, and decide whether to attach grant conditions. HHS and CDC staff must consult with DOT on emergency action plan assistance and AED deployment recommendations. Transportation facility owners and operators may need to buy devices, maintain them, train personnel, draft emergency action plans, and comply with DOT financial assistance terms. States and local transportation agencies must decide how to allocate block grant funds among AED projects and competing transportation priorities.

Key Provisions

• Adds surface transportation block grant eligibility for projects to purchase and deploy AEDs at eligible transportation facilities.
• Adds eligibility for projects to develop and implement written emergency action plans for medical emergencies at eligible transportation facilities.
• Requires DOT, HHS, and CDC technical assistance for States and local officials developing emergency action plans.
• Directs DOT to issue AED deployment recommendations and emergency-plan guidelines for interstate transportation facilities.
• Authorizes DOT to provide technical assistance to facility owners and operators and to impose financial-assistance conditions promoting adoption.
• Defines interstate transportation facilities to include bus, ferry, and rail terminals, Interstate rest areas, certain rail passenger vehicles, and DOT-designated facilities.