[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 611 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 611

   To establish a Federal Interagency Committee on Emergency Medical 
   Services and a Federal Interagency Committee on Emergency Medical 
           Services Advisory Council, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 14, 2005

  Ms. Collins (for herself and Mr. Feingold) introduced the following 
 bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland 
                   Security and Governmental Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To establish a Federal Interagency Committee on Emergency Medical 
   Services and a Federal Interagency Committee on Emergency Medical 
           Services Advisory Council, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Emergency Medical Services Support 
Act''.

SEC. 2. FEDERAL INTERAGENCY COMMITTEE ON EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES.

    (a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Transportation and the 
Secretary of Homeland Security, through the Under Secretary for 
Emergency Preparedness and Response, and in consultation with the 
Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall establish a Federal 
Interagency Committee on Emergency Medical Services (referred to in 
this Act as the ``Interagency Committee on EMS'') to improve 
coordination and enhance support of emergency medical services.
    (b) Membership.--The Interagency Committee on EMS shall consist of 
the following officials, or their designees:
            (1) The Administrator of the National Highway Traffic 
        Safety Administration.
            (2) The Director of the Office for Domestic Preparedness of 
        the Department of Homeland Security.
            (3) The Administrator of the Health Resources and Services 
        Administration of the Department of Health and Human Services.
            (4) The Director of the Centers for Disease Control and 
        Prevention of the Department of Health and Human Services.
            (5) The Administrator of the United States Fire 
        Administration of the Department of Homeland Security.
            (6) The Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & 
        Medicaid Services of the Department of Health and Human 
        Services.
            (7) The Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and 
        Readiness.
            (8) The Assistant Secretary for Public Health Emergency 
        Preparedness of the Department of Health and Human Services.
            (9) The Director of the Indian Health Service of the 
        Department of Health and Human Services.
            (10) The Bureau Chief of the Wireless Telecommunications 
        Bureau of the Federal Communications Commission.
            (11) A representative of any other Federal agency 
        identified by the Secretary of Transportation or the Secretary 
        of Homeland Security, through the Under Secretary for Emergency 
        Preparedness and Response and in consultation with the 
        Secretary of Health and Human Services, as having a significant 
        role in relation to the purposes of the Interagency Committee 
        on EMS.
    (c) Leadership.--The members of the Interagency Committee on EMS 
shall annually select an individual from among the members of the 
Committee to serve as chairperson of the Committee.
    (d) Activities.--The Interagency Committee on EMS shall carry out 
the following activities:
            (1) Ensuring coordination among the Federal agencies 
        represented on the Interagency Committee on EMS with State, 
        local, tribal, or regional emergency medical services and 9-1-1 
        systems.
            (2) Identifying State, local, tribal, or regional emergency 
        medical services and 9-1-1 needs.
            (3) Ensuring that emergency medical services are 
        appropriately integrated with homeland security and other 
        emergency response programs.
            (4) Recommending new or expanded programs, including grant 
        programs, for--
                    (A) improving State, local, tribal, or regional 
                emergency medical services; and
                    (B) implementing improved interoperable voice and 
                data emergency medical services and communications 
                technologies, including wireless 9-1-1.
            (5) Identifying ways to streamline the process through 
        which Federal agencies support State, local, tribal, or 
        regional emergency medical services.
            (6) Assisting State, local, tribal, or regional emergency 
        medical services in setting priorities based on identified 
        needs.
            (7) Advising, consulting, and making recommendations on 
        matters relating to the implementation of the coordinated State 
        emergency medical services programs.
    (e) Meetings.--The Interagency Committee on EMS shall meet as 
frequently as is determined necessary by the chairperson of the 
Committee, but no less frequently than quarterly.
    (f) Administration.--The Administrator of the National Highway 
Traffic Safety Administration, in cooperation with the Director of the 
Office for Domestic Preparedness of the Department of Homeland 
Security, shall provide administrative support to the Interagency 
Committee on EMS, including scheduling meetings, setting agendas, 
keeping minutes and records, and producing reports.
    (g) Annual Reports.--The Interagency Committee on EMS shall prepare 
and submit an annual report to Congress on the Committee's activities, 
actions, and recommendations, and shall include in such report a 
description of respective Federal agency responsibility, support, and 
coordination of emergency medical services systems.

SEC. 3. FEDERAL INTERAGENCY COMMITTEE ON EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES 
              ADVISORY COUNCIL.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established a Federal Interagency 
Committee on Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council (in this Act 
referred to as the ``Advisory Council'') that shall consist of not more 
than 13 individuals with an interest or expertise in emergency medical 
services selected by the Interagency Committee on EMS.
    (b) Membership.--In selecting members of the Advisory Council, the 
Interagency Committee on EMS shall ensure that the Advisory Council 
represents--
            (1) both urban and rural areas; and
            (2) all sectors of the emergency medical services 
        community.
    (c) Leadership.--Members of the Advisory Council shall annually 
select an individual from among the members of the Council to serve as 
chairperson of the Advisory Council.
    (d) Activities.--The Advisory Council shall make recommendations to 
the Interagency Committee on EMS on topics including the following:
            (1) Improved coordination and support of emergency medical 
        services systems among Federal programs.
            (2) Development of a national emergency medical services 
        plan.
            (3) Standards, guidelines, benchmarks, and data collection 
        on emergency medical services.
            (4) Guidelines for conducting needs assessments for 
        improving community-based emergency medical services systems at 
        State and local levels.
            (5) Creation of new, or the expansion of existing, grants 
        or other programs for improving community-based emergency 
        medical services.
            (6) Consolidation or realignment of Federal agency or 
        program responsibility for emergency medical services.
            (7) Strengthening emergency medical services systems 
        through enhanced workforce development, education, training, 
        exercises, equipment, medical oversight, and other areas.
            (8) Issues or topics to be addressed in the annual report 
        of the Interagency Committee on EMS.
    (e) Annual Report.--Before the Interagency Committee on EMS submits 
the annual report required under section 2(g) to Congress, the Advisory 
Council shall review the report and include independent information or 
recommendations for inclusion in the report, as deemed appropriate by 
the Advisory Council.
    (f) Meetings.--The Advisory Council--
            (1) shall meet at the same time and place as the 
        Interagency Committee on EMS, when such Committee meets; and
            (2) may conduct independent meetings to receive public 
        comment and collect data and information.
    (g) Compensation and Reimbursement.--
            (1) Compensation.--The members of the Advisory Council 
        shall receive no pay by reason of their service as a member of 
        the Advisory Council.
            (2) Travel expenses.--The members of the Advisory Council 
        shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of 
        subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of agencies 
        under subchapter 1 of chapter 57 of title 5, United States 
        Code, while away from their homes or regular places of business 
        in the performance of services for the Advisory Council.
    (h) Administration.--The Administrator of the National Highway 
Traffic Safety Administration, in cooperation with the Director of the 
Office for Domestic Preparedness of the Department of Homeland 
Security, shall provide administration support to the Advisory Council.
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