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Legislation
Pennsylvania
Representative Kelly Lewis (R-189th), a long-time friend,
introduced legislation to provide assistance to any school in Pennsylvania
that chose to purchase AEDs and implement a school based program. He
cautioned us that similar legislation had been soundly defeated the year
before. Representative Lewis introduced his bill in January 2001. On April
25, 2001, along with Greg’s Notre Dame classmates, we were invited to
Harrisburg to witness the vote. Kelly’s bill passed unanimously. What a
coincidence that April 25th would have been Greg’s sixteenth
birthday. The vote wasn’t planned for this date, at least not by any mere
mortal.
By the
time Governor Ridge signed the legislation on May 17, 2001, its provisions
were changed (see State-Wide programs) but it is still the nation’s first
state-wide effort to provide AEDs in schools.
( use
Ridge or Ridgerevised and LewisApril252001 form CD 1 as pix)
Representative Lewis stands ready to share his expertise with legislators
from other states who wish to introduce similar legislation. He may be
contacted at
www.klewis@pahousegop.com.
New York
AED
legislation was introduced in New York in 2001 following the death of
Louis Acompora who died after being struck in the chest with a lacrosse
ball in March 2000. Rachel Moyer, who teaches in New York State was
instrumental in gaining the support of the 500,000 member New York State
United Teachers Union. She lobbied legislators, answered questions of
staffers, and appeared on several television programs to gain additional
support.
New
York’s legislation was passed in May 2002 (See State-Wide programs)
Federal
Rachel
has also been active in Washington D.C. She contacted Senators Kennedy and
Frist who jointly sponsored legislation to place AEDs in communities and
she trained a number of staff on the use of AEDs so that they would feel
comfortable responding to questions.
The bill
has been passed by the Senate and is presently in committee in the U.S.
House of Representatives.
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