Press Releases

Congressmen Glenn Grothman (WI-06) has introduced Dillon’s Law, a bill that will incentivize states to allow “good Samaritans” to save lives. This bill will allow states to use existing federal grant money for preventative health services to be used to train individuals to carry and administer epinephrine.

The bill was inspired by Dillon Mueller, a Mishicot, WI native who tragically passed away in 2014 at the age of 18 after being stung by a bee and falling into a coma due to anaphylaxis. Dillon was unable to receive epinephrine in a timely manner. Read more about Dillon’s story here.

Dillon Mueller

Versions of Grothman’s bill have already been signed into law in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Indiana with overwhelming bipartisan support. While similar legislation passed Congress in 2013 providing incentives for states to develop emergency epinephrine programs within school systems, this legislation would make epinephrine training more widely available, enabling more individuals to prevent tragedies involving anaphylaxis from occurring.

“Dillon Mueller’s passing was a tragedy,” said Grothman. “No parent should have to endure the loss of a child, and that is what Dillon’s parents, Angel and George, are working to prevent.

“This bill isn’t limited to children, however. The legislation incentivizes states to allow any properly trained individual to administer epinephrine to someone experiencing a severe allergic reaction.

“In Wisconsin, Dillon’s Law was passed with wide bipartisan support before it was signed into law by Governor Walker in 2017. Since then, over 3,000 Wisconsinites have been trained to administer Epinephrine in the event of a life-threatening allergic reaction. I hope that my colleagues in Congress will join me in learning more about Dillon Mueller and how Dillon’s Law can help save lives throughout the country.”

“As I witnessed Dillon receiving CPR after a bee sting, God spoke to my heart and commanded me, ‘you need to fix this!’” Said Angel Mueller, Dillon’s mom. “God has put all the right people in the right place at the right time, including Congressman Grothman. To date, several lives have been saved in Wisconsin as a result of Dillon’s Law from individuals trained to administer epinephrine to someone experiencing anaphylaxis.”

Background Information

Under Dillon’s Law, states would have greater access to existing federal grant dollars for preventative health services in order to train, certify and enable good Samaritans to administer epinephrine to an individual experiencing a severe allergic reaction in the event they need the medication before emergency medical services can arrive. The bill also requires states to implement civil liability protections for individuals trained in administering epinephrine.

Anaphylaxis occurs when someone suffers a severe and life-threatening allergic reaction, most commonly from insect stings, food items, and medications. Anywhere from 500-1,000 fatal cases of anaphylaxis occur every year in the United States, in addition to hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations and emergency room visits every year. 

The legislation is inspired by the life of Dillon Mueller, a Mishicot, WI native who passed away at the age of 18 from anaphylaxis following a bee sting. Angel and George Mueller started the Dillon Mueller Memorial Fund, which has already helped 3,000 people obtain training in Wisconsin through the “Do It for Dillon Epinephrine Certification Program”, approved by Wisconsin Department of Health. The content of the course is state-approved through the Wisconsin Association of Osteopathic Physicians & Surgeons (WAOPS). The course lasts approximately 1 hour, is free of charge, and can be provided for any community entity or group interested in epinephrine training.

Training for delivery of epinephrine to an individual is cost effective, quick, and can prevent tragedies from occurring every year.

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U.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-Glenbeulah) is serving his fourth term representing Wisconsin’s 6th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.