[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1037 Introduced in House (IH)]

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115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1037

     To authorize the National Emergency Medical Services Memorial 
    Foundation to establish a commemorative work in the District of 
           Columbia and its environs, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           February 14, 2017

 Mr. Lynch (for himself, Mr. King of New York, Mr. Ruiz, Mr. Lipinski, 
Mr. Duncan of South Carolina, Mr. Heck, Ms. Clark of Massachusetts, Mr. 
    Walz, Mr. McGovern, Miss Rice of New York, Mr. Keating, and Mr. 
   Kennedy) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                     Committee on Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
     To authorize the National Emergency Medical Services Memorial 
    Foundation to establish a commemorative work in the District of 
           Columbia and its environs, 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. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds as follows:
            (1) Each year, in every corner of the Nation, the 850,000 
        first responders of Emergency Medical Services answer more than 
        30,000,000 calls to serve 22,000,000 patients in need of life-
        saving care and comfort at a moment's notice and without 
        reservation. With little regard for their own safety and in the 
        face of all hazards the men and women of Emergency Medical 
        Services respond across the spectrum of incidents from a single 
        person's medical emergency to the naturally occurring or man-
        made disasters, including terrorist attacks that threaten the 
        entire Nation. This commitment to others, at a moment's notice 
        and despite risk, exemplifies the finest traditions of American 
        spirit.
            (2) As an element of the Nation's homeland defense 
        strategy, Emergency Medical Services stands on the ``Nation's 
        first line of defense in the prevention and mitigation of risk 
        from terrorist attacks, man-made incidents, and natural 
        disasters''. The men and women of Emergency Medical Services, 
        alongside those in Law Enforcement and the Fire Service, 
        serving in both the public and private sectors as career and 
        volunteer emergency medical service providers, are a critical 
        element of the Nation's homeland and national security efforts 
        and provide for the domestic tranquility of its citizens.
            (3) All too often the risks associated with the critical 
        role of Emergency Medical Services results in an unacceptable 
        rate of injury and fatality to these responders. Statistics 
        compiled by the United States Department of Labor and the 
        National Highway Safety Administration indicate that emergency 
        medical services providers die in the line of duty at a rate 
        more than twice the national average for all occupational 
        fatalities and during their careers experience an injury rate 
        of virtually 100 percent.
            (4) We as a Nation have historically and continually rely 
        on the selfless and ultimate sacrifices made by the men and 
        women of this great country, their families, and loved ones in 
        order to maintain the domestic tranquility, safety, and 
        security of this Nation. The men and women of Emergency Medical 
        Services continue to serve in this finest tradition, in the 
        face of unacceptable sacrifice, risk and danger in service to 
        the Nation and its citizens.
            (5) The scope of responsibility assumed by the men and 
        women of the Emergency Medical Services is broad and unique and 
        their sacrifice and commitment in service to our Nation are 
        deserving of a commemorative work that recognizes such.

SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION TO ESTABLISH COMMEMORATIVE WORK.

    (a) In General.--The National Emergency Medical Services Memorial 
Foundation may establish a commemorative work on Federal land in the 
District of Columbia and its environs to commemorate the commitment and 
service represented by emergency medical services.
    (b) Compliance With Standards for Commemorative Works.--The 
establishment of the commemorative work under this section shall be in 
accordance with chapter 89 of title 40, United States Code (commonly 
known as the ``Commemorative Works Act'').
    (c) Prohibition on the Use of Federal Funds.--
            (1) In general.--Federal funds may not be used to pay any 
        expense of the establishment of the commemorative work under 
        this section.
            (2) Responsibility of national emergency medical services 
        memorial foundation.--The National Emergency Medical Services 
        Memorial Foundation shall be solely responsible for acceptance 
        of contributions for, and payment of the expenses of, the 
        establishment of the commemorative work under this section.
    (d) Deposit of Excess Funds.--
            (1) In general.--If upon payment of all expenses for the 
        establishment of the memorial (including the maintenance and 
        preservation amount required by section 8906(b)(1) of title 40, 
        United States Code), there remains a balance of funds received 
        for the establishment of the commemorative work, the Foundation 
        shall transmit the amount of the balance to the Secretary of 
        the Interior for deposit in the account provided for in section 
        8906(b)(3) of title 40, United States Code.
            (2) On expiration of authority.--If upon expiration of the 
        authority for the commemorative work under section 8903(e) of 
        title 40, United States Code, there remains a balance of funds 
        received for the establishment of the commemorative work, the 
        Foundation shall transmit the amount of the balance to a 
        separate account with the National Park Foundation for 
        memorials, to be available to the Secretary of the Interior or 
        Administrator (as appropriate) following the process provided 
        in section 8906(b)(4) of title 40, United States Code, for 
        accounts established under 8906(b)(2) or (3) of title 40, 
        United States Code.
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