--- title: SR 64. Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week; recognize February 7 to 14, 2025 collection: bills id: 2025-2026/sr64 cite_as: SR 64, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr64 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr64.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr64/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/69696 date: 2025-01-30 status: passed corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13 license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice. up: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026.md previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr63.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr65.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 94 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr64.md?full=1 bill_number: SR 64 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: Senate bill_type: resolution status_date: 2025-01-30 last_action: Senate Read and Adopted sponsors: - Josh McLaurin - Matt Brass - Ricky Williams - RaShaun Kemp - Chuck Payne - Russ Goodman - Michael Rhett text_version: Enrolled has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR64/2025 upstream_id: 1947540 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - congenital heart defects - health awareness - children's health - state capitol recognition --- # SR 64. Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week; recognize February 7 to 14, 2025 ## Text Senate Resolution 64 By: Senators McLaurin of the 14th, Brass of the 6th, Williams of the 25th, Kemp of the 38th, Payne of the 54th and others A RESOLUTION Recognizing February 7 to 14, 2025, as Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week at the state capitol; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, congenital heart defects are one of the most frequently occurring birth defects and a leading cause of deaths related to birth defects worldwide; and WHEREAS, more than one million families across America face the challenges and hardships of raising children with congenital heart defects, and each year, approximately 40,000 babies are born in the United States with these conditions; and WHEREAS, some congenital heart defects are not diagnosed until months or years after birth; when these conditions go undiagnosed, they can cause many cases of sudden cardiac death in young athletes; and WHEREAS, despite these alarming statistics, newborns and young athletes are still not regularly screened for congenital heart defects; and WHEREAS, Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week provides an opportunity for families whose lives have been affected by congenital heart defects to celebrate life, remember the loved ones they have lost, honor dedicated health professionals, and share information with the public and the media. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body recognize February 7 to 14, 2025, as Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week at the state capitol. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and its Kids at Heart program. ## Summaries written by Georgia Commons The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the resolution. Quote the text, not the summary. A Georgia Senate resolution recognizes February 7 to 14, 2025, as Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week at the state capitol, drawing attention to birth defects affecting the heart. ### Plain-language summary This resolution from the Georgia Senate designates February 7 to 14, 2025, as Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week at the state capitol. It does not change any Georgia law; instead it is a formal statement recognizing the impact of congenital heart defects, which are birth defects present from birth that affect the structure of the heart. The resolution notes that congenital heart defects are common and can be fatal, including in cases where they go undiagnosed until later in life, sometimes contributing to sudden cardiac death in young athletes. It directs the Secretary of the Senate to send a copy of the resolution to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and its Kids at Heart program, which supports children with heart conditions. ### What it does - Formally recognizes February 7 to 14, 2025, as Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week at the Georgia state capitol. - States findings about the prevalence and dangers of congenital heart defects, including undiagnosed cases linked to sudden cardiac death in young athletes. - Directs the Secretary of the Senate to send a copy of the resolution to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and its Kids at Heart program. - Does not create any new law, funding, or requirement; it is a symbolic recognition rather than a binding legal change. ### Who it affects This resolution mainly 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 will receive a copy of the resolution. ### Why it matters While the resolution does not change any law or fund any program, it gives public recognition to congenital heart defects during a designated week, which may raise awareness among Georgians about screening newborns and young athletes for these conditions. ### Key provisions - The resolution's whereas clauses describe congenital heart defects as a leading cause of birth-defect-related deaths and note that about 40,000 babies are born with them annually in the United States. - The resolved clause formally designates February 7 to 14, 2025, as Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week at the state capitol. - The final clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to distribute a copy of the resolution to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and its Kids at Heart program. ## Status - Status: Passed (2025-01-30) - Last action: Senate Read and Adopted (2025-01-30) - Sponsors: Josh McLaurin, Matt Brass, Ricky Williams, RaShaun Kemp, Chuck Payne, Russ Goodman, Michael Rhett - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/69696 > The history, votes, and amendments (94 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr64.md?full=1