Rep. Gottheimer introduces 'Marcus' Law' to require cardiac screenings for student-athletes
The effort is named after Marcus Kayal, a 16-year-old Mahwah student athlete who died unexpectedly from an undiagnosed heart condition in 2019.
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A new push in Congress is aimed at preventing sudden cardiac arrest among student-athletes.
U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer announced “Marcus’s Law” at Westwood Regional High School on Monday, calling for mandatory cardiac screenings for high school athletes before they take the field.
“We were talking about a simple screening of both an EKG and an ECG. An echocardiogram an electrocardiogram that could detect hidden heart conditions before they become deadly,” Gottheimer said.
The proposed bipartisan legislation would require student-athletes to undergo cardiac screenings — including EKGs and echocardiograms — to help detect hidden heart conditions before they become deadly.
The effort is named after Marcus Kayal, a 16-year-old Mahwah student athlete who died unexpectedly from an undiagnosed heart condition in 2019.
Marcus’s story has since inspired local advocacy and screening programs across North Jersey, including efforts led by students and families connected to the Hearts4Marcus initiative.
“We screened but 150 Kids total over the two years, " said Jordan Schwartz, a Westwood student who helped expand screening efforts locally. "We've actually detected two abnormalities one was serious enough to where that student can't play sports, until further testing and clearance."
According to the legislation, screenings would also be made more accessible through partnerships with hospitals and providers to reduce or eliminate costs for families.
The push comes as officials point to continued cases of sudden cardiac events among young athletes in New Jersey, underscoring what supporters call a growing and preventable crisis.
"Since 2021, At least 11 young athletes in New Jersey have collapsed during games or practices and four of them, tragically lost their lives," Gottheimer said.
Gottheimer is also urging federal support for cardiac research and emergency preparedness programs in schools, including funding for heart health research and expanded access to AEDs and CPR training.
