Georgia CommonsHR 136: Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week at the state capitol; February 7-14, 2025; recognize
Last action February 3, 2025 · House Read and Adopted
A Georgia House resolution recognizes February 7 to 14, 2025, as Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week at the state capitol, honoring families and health professionals affected by these birth defects.
The summaries below were written by an AI model (claude-sonnet-5) from the text of the resolution and are not part of it. Quote the text, not the summary. The stored text is the Introduced version, the latest LegiScan holds.
In plain language
This resolution from the Georgia House of Representatives designates February 7 to 14, 2025, as Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week at the state capitol. It does not change any law; it is a ceremonial statement recognizing the impact of congenital heart defects, which the resolution describes as a leading cause of birth-defect-related deaths and a condition affecting more than a million American families each year. The resolution notes that some heart defects go undiagnosed for months or years, sometimes contributing to sudden cardiac death in young athletes, and that newborns and young athletes are not regularly screened. It directs the Clerk of the House to send a copy of the resolution to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and its Kids at Heart program.
What the bill does
- Formally recognizes February 7 to 14, 2025, as Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week at the Georgia state capitol.
- Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and its Kids at Heart program.
- Creates no new legal requirements, funding, or screening mandates; it is a symbolic statement rather than a change to Georgia law.
Who it affects
Families of children with congenital heart defects, health professionals who treat these conditions, and organizations like Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and its Kids at Heart program, which the resolution specifically names as a recipient of the document.
Why it matters
The resolution itself creates no screening requirements or funding, so it does not change medical practice or law. Its main effect is raising public awareness and honoring affected families, which may support advocacy efforts around congenital heart defect screening.
Key provisions
- Resolves that House members recognize February 7 to 14, 2025 as Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week at the state capitol.
- Directs the Clerk of the House to make a copy of the resolution available for distribution to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and its Kids at Heart program.
- Recites background findings, including that congenital heart defects are a leading cause of birth-defect-related deaths and that newborns and young athletes are not regularly screened for them.
From the bill
“despite these alarming statistics, newborns and young athletes are still not regularly screened for congenital heart defects”
“the members of this body recognize February 7 to 14, 2025, as Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week at the state capitol”
Status timeline
- House Read and Adopted (House)
- House First Readers (House)
- House Hopper (House)
Sponsors
- Katie Dempsey (R, HD-013)
- Lee Hawkins (R, HD-027)
- Carolyn Hugley (D, HD-141)
- Sharon Cooper (R, HD-045)
- Darlene Taylor (R, HD-173)
Topics
- congenital heart defects
- health awareness
- children's health
- state capitol resolutions