H.R. 5897 would expand the Surface Transportation Block Grant Program to fund the purchase and deployment of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) at interstate transportation facilities, including bus terminals, ferry terminals, rail stations, and highway rest areas. It also requires the development and implementation of written emergency action plans for medical emergencies at these facilities, incorporating AED use, and directs the Secretary of Transportation to issue deployment recommendations and guidelines and to provide technical assistance to states and facility owners.
The act would take effect 180 days after enactment.
At a Glance
What It Does
Adds two new project categories to the Surface Transportation Block Grant Program: AED deployment at interstate transportation facilities and the development of written emergency action plans for medical emergencies.
Who It Affects
State Departments of Transportation, metropolitan planning organizations, and owners/operators of interstate facilities (bus terminals, rail stations, ferry terminals, rest areas) that would receive federal funds or guidance under the grant program.
Why It Matters
Standardizes AED deployment and emergency planning across major travel hubs, aiming to improve response times and survival rates for sudden cardiac events.
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What This Bill Actually Does
The bill amends federal transportation financing to help place AEDs at places where people gather in large numbers along the Interstate System. It adds two funding categories to the Surface Transportation Block Grant Program: one for purchasing and installing AEDs at interstate transportation facilities, and another for developing and implementing written emergency action plans, including AED use, at those facilities.
The Department of Transportation would also provide technical assistance to state and local officials and facility owners to help them meet these new requirements. In addition, the DOT may attach terms to federal funding to ensure facilities adopt the recommended deployment strategies and guidelines.
The act defines which facilities count as interstate transportation facilities and sets an effective date for the changes. The overarching goal is to reduce death from sudden cardiac arrest by ensuring rapid access to defibrillation in high-traffic transit locations.
The Five Things You Need to Know
Adds two new grant-eligible project types to 23 U.S.C. 133(b): AED deployment and emergency action plans at interstate facilities.
DOT must issue deployment recommendations and guidelines and provide technical assistance to states and facility owners.
Enforcement via additional terms and conditions on DOT funding to ensure adoption of AED and EAP measures.
Expands the definition of interstate transportation facilities to include bus terminals, ferry terminals, rail stations, highway rest areas, and certain rail vehicles.
Applicable 180 days after enactment.
Section-by-Section Breakdown
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Short Title
Cites the act as the Public Access to Defibrillation in Transportation Facilities Act of 2025, establishing the formal name by which the law will be known.
Findings and Sense of Congress
Outlines the public health rationale for AED deployment and supports accelerated placement in crowded locations. Emphasizes the life-saving potential of rapid defibrillation and frames a federal role in promoting quicker response times.
Expansion of the Surface Transportation Block Grant Program
Adds two new eligible project categories: (25) AED deployment at transportation facilities, and (26) written emergency action plans for medical emergencies at those facilities. This expands funding scope and ties it to AED readiness and emergency response planning.
Deployment of AEDs in Interstate Transportation Facilities
Requires the Secretary of Transportation, with Health and Human Services input, to issue deployment recommendations and guidelines for implementing AEDs and emergency action plans. It also requires the Secretary to provide technical assistance to facility owners/operators and allows enforcement-oriented terms in federal funding to ensure compliance.
Effective Date
States that the Act and its amendments become effective 180 days after enactment, signaling a transition period for planning, procurement, and training.
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Who Benefits
- State Departments of Transportation and metropolitan planning organizations gain access to expanded grant eligibility and clearer guidance for AED deployment.
- Owners and operators of interstate facilities (bus terminals, rail stations, ferry terminals, rest areas) improve readiness and compliance with a national standard.
- Public health agencies and EMS providers benefit from better-coordinated, evenly distributed AED access and emergency action planning.
- Transit users and travelers gain quicker access to life-saving interventions in the event of a sudden cardiac incident.
Who Bears the Cost
- Facilities incur procurement, maintenance, and training expenses associated with AEDs and emergency action plans.
- States and localities may shoulder administrative costs related to implementing new guidelines and reporting requirements.
- The Department of Transportation bears ongoing costs for developing guidelines, providing technical assistance, and monitoring compliance with the amended grant program.
Key Issues
The Core Tension
Balancing the safety benefits of ubiquitous AED access and formal emergency planning with the practical realities of funding, maintenance, and ongoing compliance across a diverse set of facilities.
The bill shifts some costs and responsibilities to state and local actors by expanding grant-eligible activities and requiring written emergency action plans. This could raise implementation challenges for smaller facilities or those with limited administrative capacity, and it hinges on adequate funding and timely dissemination of guidelines.
The enforcement mechanism—adding terms to federal funding—could raise questions about funding continuity for facilities that struggle to meet all requirements, especially during budget cycles or in fiscally constrained jurisdictions.
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