[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 68 (Thursday, May 17, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5127-S5128]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 40--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF CONGRESS 
 REGARDING THE DESIGNATION OF THE WEEK OF MAY 20, 2001, AS ``NATIONAL 
                   EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES WEEK''

  Mr. HATCH (for himself, Mr. Baucus, Mr. Allen, Mr. Bayh, Mr. Bennett, 
Mr. Bingaman, Mr. Bond, Mr. Breaux, Mr. Brownback, Ms. Cantwell, Mrs. 
Carnahan, Mr. Chafee, Mrs. Clinton, Ms. Collins, Mr. Craig, Mr. 
Daschle, Mr. Dayton, Mr. DeWine, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Dorgan, Mr. Durbin, Mr. 
Ensign, Mr. Feingold, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr.

[[Page S5128]]

Fitzgerald, Mr. Frist, Mr. Graham, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Helms, Mr. Inhofe, 
Mr. Inouye, Mr. Jeffords, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Kerry, Ms. Landrieu, Mrs. 
Lincoln, Ms. Mikulski, Mr. Miller, Mr. Murkowski, Mrs. Murray, Mr. 
Reid, Mr. Rockefeller, Mr. Santorum, Mr. Sarbanes, Mr. Smith of Oregon, 
Ms. Snowe, Mr. Specter, Mr. Stevens, Mr. Thomas, Mr. Thurmond, Mr. 
Torricelli, Mr. Voinovich, and Mr. Wellstone) submitted the following 
concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the 
Judiciary:

                             S. Con. Res 40

       Whereas emergency medical services are a vital public 
     service;
       Whereas the members of emergency medical services teams are 
     ready to provide lifesaving care to those in need 24 hours a 
     day, 7 days a week;
       Whereas access to quality emergency care dramatically 
     improves the survival and recovery rate of those who 
     experience sudden illness or injury;
       Whereas providers of emergency medical services have 
     traditionally served as the safety net of America's health 
     care system;
       Whereas emergency medical services teams consist of 
     emergency physicians, emergency nurses, emergency medical 
     technicians, paramedics, firefighters, educators, 
     administrators, and others;
       Whereas approximately two-thirds of all emergency medical 
     services providers are volunteers;
       Whereas the members of emergency medical services teams, 
     whether career or volunteer, undergo thousands of hours of 
     specialized training and continuing education to enhance 
     their lifesaving skills;
       Whereas Americans benefit daily from the knowledge and 
     skills of these highly trained individuals;
       Whereas injury prevention and the appropriate use of the 
     emergency medical services system will help reduce health 
     care costs: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That--
       (1) the week of May 20, 2001, is designated as ``National 
     Emergency Medical Services Week''; and
       (2) the President should issue a proclamation calling upon 
     the people of the United States to observe such week with 
     appropriate programs and activities.

  Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I am rising to introduce a bipartisan 
resolution to designate May 20-26, 2001 as National Emergency Medical 
Services Week in honor of the 750,000 Emergency Medical Services, EMS, 
personnel who are on the front lines every day saving the lives of 
countless Americans. I am delighted that my esteemed colleague, Senator 
Baucus, is joining me as the primary cosponsor, in addition to 50 other 
original cosponsors.
  The theme of this year's week is ``EMS: Answering the Call,'' 
emphasizing the responsiveness of emergency medical services around the 
country, while underscoring the importance of the national 9-1-1 
emergency number system. This observance also honors the passion and 
commitment of those serving the system including emergency physicians, 
emergency nurses, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, 
firefighters, and many other dedicated individuals who provide 
lifesaving care 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
  The continued strength and growth of our Emergency Medical Services 
System has been an important issue to me. In 1984, Senator Inouye and I 
worked closely with several of our colleagues to enact legislation to 
establish the Nation's first Emergency Medical Services for Children 
program, EMSC.
  Over the past decade, this pediatric EMS program has improved the 
availability of child-size equipment in ambulances and emergency 
departments. It has fostered literally hundreds of state and local 
programs to prevent injuries, and has supported thousands of hours of 
training for Emergency Medical Technicians, EMTs, paramedics, and other 
emergency medical care providers. EMSC efforts have led to legislation 
mandating programs in several States, and to the development of 
educational materials covering every aspect of pediatric emergency 
care. However, most importantly, EMSC efforts are saving kids' lives.
  EMS providers, be they career or volunteer, which the majority are, 
engage in thousands of hours of specialized training and continuing 
education to enhance their lifesaving skills. It is well known that 
access to quality emergency care dramatically improves the survival and 
recovery rate of those who experience sudden illness or injury. In 
fact, emergency medical services providers have traditionally served as 
the safety net of America's health care system.
  However, this healthcare safety net today is in crisis. On the front 
lines, emergency medical service providers are faced with crowded 
emergency departments and dwindling resources. These, and many other 
complex issues are threatening the ability of health professionals to 
deliver quality care.
  A solution to the overcrowding of our nation's emergency departments 
requires a national commitment. This will mean allocating significant 
financial resources and convening Federal and State policymakers, local 
hospitals, community leaders and public and private health plan payers 
to develop workable solutions. We will also need adequate monitoring 
and data collection efforts to understand the scope of these problems 
and to uncover the best methods for resolving this crisis.
  To continue to deliver quality healthcare in this country, we must 
not only recognize those individuals who have dedicated their careers 
to caring for the very sickest Americans, but also the undue stress and 
burden this system in crisis places on them each and every day. We must 
work toward resolving this crisis so we can continue to attract quality 
healthcare professionals to the EMS field and to give them the 
resources they need to continue to save lives.
  It is appropriate to recognize the value and the accomplishments of 
emergency medical service providers by designating this May 20-26, 
Emergency Medical Services Week.
  I ask my colleagues to join with me in supporting this resolution.

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