New Mexico advocate heads to D.C. to push for lifesaving legislation
ALBUQUERQUE, Oct. 24, 2025 — Shayai Lucero of Laguna Pueblo will travel to Washington, D.C., next week to urge Congress to fund the lifesaving HEARTS Act — legislation designed to ensure every school is prepared to respond to a cardiac emergency. She will join the American Heart Association, a relentless force changing the future of health for everyone everywhere, and advocates from across the country as part of the American Heart Association’s Heart Powered grassroots advocacy network.
On Capitol Hill, Lucero and fellow advocates will share their personal stories and call on lawmakers to fund the HEARTS Act through the fiscal year 2026 appropriations process — turning lifesaving legislation into lifesaving action. The law, passed unanimously in 2024, created a grant program at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to help K–12 schools:
- Train students and staff in CPR
- Purchase and maintain automated external defibrillators (AEDs)
- Develop cardiac emergency response plans
The program also supports research into cardiomyopathy and other conditions that cause cardiac arrest in youth.
For Lucero, the mission is personal. At age 43, she survived a widowmaker heart attack — a type of cardiac event with a survival rate of less than 10 percent. Today, she serves on the American Heart Association-New Mexico board of directors and advocates for heart health awareness in Native American communities.
“No one expects a heart attack to happen to them — especially in communities where access to emergency care is limited,” Lucero said. “The HEARTS Act will help ensure that every school, no matter where it is, has the tools and training to save lives.”
Each year, more than 356,000 people in the U.S. experience cardiac arrest outside of a hospital, including more than 23,000 children. Every minute without CPR reduces the chance of survival by 10 percent — but quick action can double or even triple survival rates.
“Survival from cardiac arrest shouldn’t depend on luck or location,” said Chris Turner, SW region grassroot manager for the American Heart Association. “When people are trained and AEDs are within reach, a life that could have been lost becomes a life saved.”
The American Heart Association’s Nation of Lifesavers™ initiative aims to double cardiac arrest survival rates by 2030. In New Mexico, the campaign is focused on expanding CPR training in tribal schools and improving access to AEDs in rural communities.
“By funding the HEARTS Act, Congress can help build a Nation of Lifesavers — one student, one school, one community at a time,” said Turner. “This investment will ensure more people are ready to act in every classroom, school gym and hallway across the country.”
Advocates across the country can join the effort by texting AED to 46839 to urge Congress to fund the HEARTS Act.
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About the American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities, the organization has been a leading source of health information for more than 100 years. Supported by more than 35 million volunteers globally, we fund groundbreaking research, advocate for the public’s health, and provide critical resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke. By driving breakthroughs and implementing proven solutions in science, policy, and care, we work tirelessly to advance health and transform lives every day. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.
For Media Inquiries
Cyd King: cyd.king@heart.org
For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)
heart.org and stroke.org
