Arizona Heart at the Capitol Lobby Day 2025: Advocates uniting to change the future of health

On Jan.16, 2025, the American Heart Association hosted the annual State Lobby Day at the Capitol Building in Phoenix, Arizona, bringing together 82 passionate advocates, legislators, and other organizations such as Miss America, the Anthony Bates Foundation, Project ADAM, and the American College of Cardiology. The primary purpose of the event was to advocate for legislation that would impact Acute Cardiac Events in School.

Throughout the day, advocates held 36meetings with legislators and staff, including key decision-makers. Volunteers from our bill sponsor’s district joined the event, ensuring strong community representation. Among them, the Midkiff family—survivors of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA)—shared their powerful story, emphasizing the critical need for accessible CPR training and AED availability in schools. Their testimony resonated deeply, reinforcing our advocacy efforts. Legislators responded positively, with many expressing support and committing to further discussions.

The event yielded immediate progress. Thanks to the dedication of our incredible volunteers and their compelling discussions with lawmakers, our bill was assigned to both the House Education Committee and the House Appropriations Committee following the event. Additionally, our legislative meetings provided crucial insights and strategic direction to help us prepare for future committee hearings.

The day was filled with inspiring moments and heartfelt testimonies. Among the most impactful was the story of Matt (father), Pyper (daughter), and Emeri (daughter) Midkiff. In 2023, Pyper suffered an SCA during soccer practice. With a coach hesitant to perform CPR and a locked AED, the delay could have been fatal. Pyper survived, but the experience underscored the urgent need for improved emergency preparedness. Later, Pyper and her twin sister, Emeri, were both diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and received pacemakers. Their story deeply moved our volunteers and reinforced why this legislation—and our advocacy—matters.

Overall, the Arizona Heart at the Capitol Lobby Day 2025 was a resounding success. It demonstrated the power of advocates uniting to change the future of health by speaking out and speaking up to advance policies that are improving lives and creating healthier communities.