Damar Hamlin receives praise from President Joe Biden: "Our country is better for it"

Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin visited United States President Joe Biden as part of his support for the Access to AED (Automated External Defibrillation) Act on Thursday. Biden commended Hamlin for using his platform to help save more lives.

The 46th US President tweeted, “Damar Hamlin’s courage, resilience, and spirit inspired the American people. And what's more: he turned recovery into action – and our country is better for it. It was my honor to have him and his family here today.” The post included a picture of Biden and Hamlin face-to-face in the Oval Office.

Hamlin quoted the tweet and replied, “It was a pleasure & an honor meeting you today. I know your time is precious, and I wouldn’t waste a second of it! Our conversations were valuable. #UncleJoe”

He also appeared alongside Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Florida representative Shiela Cherfilus-McCormick to discuss the benefits of the legislation. If passed, students in public and private schools will have easier access to defibrillators, which is essential for those under cardiac arrest.

The University of Pittsburgh alumnus looked back at this initiative by tweeting, “In DC today supporting the Access to AEDs Act to help protect kids from sudden cardiac arrest! A huge step forward in ensuring every student has access to life-saving resources. This is just the beginning of using my story to create real change. We’re just getting started.”

The 25-year-old defensive back said in an article by CNN’s Carma Hassan:

“Sudden cardiac arrest happens to more than 7,000 kids under the age of 18 every year in our country – 7,000 kids every year. The majority of the kids impacted are student-athletes, and research shows that 1 in every 300 youth has an undetected heart condition that puts them at risk. For schools that have AEDs, the survival rate for the children from sudden cardiac arrest is seven times higher.”

Meanwhile, a separate White House statement stated:

“The President thanked Damar Hamlin for his courage, resilience, and can-do spirit, which has inspired the American people. He commended Damar for his efforts - including through legislation - to bring people together and make life-saving technologies more widely available.”

Hamlin made the trip to the nation’s capital with his family. However, it wasn’t their first interaction with Biden, as the president called his parents two days after the shocking incident.

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Damar Hamlin's fall and rise: Bills star's epic comeback story

Hamlin collapsed on the field after tackling Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins during their Week 17 Monday Night Football game at Paycor Stadium. He initially got up after making contact with Higgins’ shoulder. Unfortunately, he remained motionless as first responders treated him for ten minutes.

He was intubated and in critical condition when taken to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. The incident led the Bills and Bengals to cancel the game despite an initial decision to resume after a five-minute warmup.

After showing significant signs of recovery, Damar Hamlin was transferred to Buffalo General Medical Center. He was discharged two days after the transfer and attended the Bills’ Divisional Round game against the Bengals. He also had a special moment in Super Bowl LVII and met NBA icon, Lebron James.

The incident also brought out emotional and financial support for his causes, particularly the Chasing M Foundation's toy drive, which received $8.7 million on its GoFundMe page. This effort prompted the NFL Players Association to give Damar Hamlin the 2023 Alan Page Community Award.