Federal grant program expands life-saving AED access in low-income housing

What it does

This bill creates a $25 million annual federal grant program (2027–2031) to help owners and operators of federally subsidized apartment buildings install automated external defibrillators (AEDs), train residents and staff in CPR, and develop cardiac emergency response plans. Grants go to building owners partnering with qualified health care organizations (nonprofits or public entities), and funds can be used to purchase AEDs, batteries, maintenance, training materials, and equipment replacement.

Why we flagged it

The bill is a straightforward federal grant program designed to improve cardiac emergency preparedness in federally assisted housing. It allocates public funds to a clearly defined public health objective with no hidden mechanisms, tax carve-outs, or private sector immunity provisions.

What the text implies

• Grant recipients must partner with qualified health care entities (nonprofits or public agencies), which may create administrative burden and exclude some building owners unable to identify or negotiate partnerships.
• The bill does not mandate participation—it is a voluntary grant program—so uptake and geographic coverage will depend on application rates and HHS funding decisions, potentially leaving some eligible buildings without support.
• AED maintenance and battery replacement costs are covered during the grant period but may become a burden for building operators after federal funding ends, risking equipment abandonment or non-compliance with maintenance standards.

Section numbers refer to the bill text the analysis read — linked under Primary records below.

Who it affects

The bill directly improves public health and safety in low-income housing by increasing access to life-saving cardiac emergency equipment and training in buildings where residents may have limited resources to obtain these tools independently. No restrictions on citizen rights, remedies, or protections are imposed; the mechanism is a straightforward public health investment.

Who stands to gain

• Nonprofit health care organizations (as qualified partners)
• AED manufacturers and suppliers (device sales and maintenance contracts)
• CPR training organizations and instructors

Named in the bill

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Federally assisted multifamily housing owners/operators, Nonprofit and public health care entities, AED manufacturers (FDA-regulated devices), Emergency medical services organizations

Where it stands

3 cosponsors: 3 Democrats.

• May 29, 2026 — Introduced · Congress.gov: “Introduced in House”
• May 29, 2026 — Referred to House Committee on Energy and Commerce · Congress.gov: “Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce”

Dates and quoted wording are Congress.gov's action record; the timeline shows status changes, not every procedural step.

Money around this bill

1 lobbying clients named this bill on 2 disclosure filings across 1 quarter, Jun 2026 to Jun 2026. Those filings disclosed $5,643,000 in lobbying spend. A filing names 103 bills on average, so that figure is what each filing reported, not a share belonging to this bill.

More lobbying clients named this bill than 0% of bills with at least one filing.

Dan Goldman, the sponsor, reported $407,029 in PAC receipts in the 2026 cycle.

• American Medical Association — $5,643,000 on 2 filings

Lobbying Disclosure Act filings through Jul 20, 2026. A filing shows who paid to lobby on a bill it names, not what changed.