[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 71 (Tuesday, May 22, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S5483]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                NATIONAL EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES WEEK

  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
Judiciary Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. Con. 
Res. 40, and the Senate then proceed to its immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk 
will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 40) expressing the 
     sense of the Congress regarding the designation of the week 
     of May 20, 2001, as ``National Emergency Medical Services 
     Week.''

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
concurrent resolution.
  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
concurrent resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the 
motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that any statements 
relating to this measure be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 40) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The concurrent resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                            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; and
       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'';
       (2) the President should issue a proclamation calling upon 
     the people of the United States to observe such week with 
     appropriate programs and activities.

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