[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 105 (Tuesday, July 14, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1760]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  EMERGENCY MEDIC TRANSITION (EMT) ACT

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                            HON. JANE HARMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 14, 2009

  Ms. HARMAN. Madam Speaker, today, together with my colleagues 
Representatives Melissa Bean and Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, I rise to 
introduce H.R. 3199, that takes an important step toward ensuring the 
safety and security of our communities by enhancing the surge 
capacities of local medical facilities, while helping ease veterans' 
transition into civilian life.
  Every year, highly trained, experienced medics leave the ranks of the 
nation's armed forces. Yet those who wish to find employment in the 
medical field must start from scratch, fulfilling the same entry-level 
criteria as citizens without any hands-on experience.
  At the same time, hospitals and emergency medical services face a 
shortage of qualified personnel. Many operate at or near capacity, 
barely meeting the daily demand for their services. In the event of a 
terrorist attack, natural disaster, or other mass-casualty incident the 
resulting surge of patients would overwhelm medical facilities. Having 
the largest possible pool of experienced emergency medical personnel on 
hand is crucial in responding to such an incident.
  Veterans with medical experience are the ideal people to fill this 
gap. Who better to come to the rescue in face of a disaster than the 
same men and women we've trusted to defend this country overseas? In 
the world of emergency response there is no substitute for experience. 
First responders routinely face life-or-death decisions, often amid a 
backdrop of chaos and confusion. This would be magnified during a 
terrorist attack or natural disaster. Military medics work at the 
scenes of IED attacks, suicide bombings, and firefights; many have 
experience equivalent to that of their most seasoned civilian 
counterparts in this respect.
  By treating veteran medics as entry-level trainees, we forego an 
opportunity to benefit from their existing training and highly relevant 
experience. Rather than subjecting them to the same coursework as 
everyone else, states should allow military medics to undertake a 
regimen that accounts for their existing training and prepares them to 
provide care in a non-combat environment. Not only will this enhance 
the surge capacity of medical facilities, it will also spare the cost 
of unnecessary, redundant training.
  The legislation we introduce today will create such a fast-track, 
removing the barriers that currently impede veterans' assimilation into 
the corps of emergency responders.
  Not only is this an important step to bolstering the nation's 
preparedness, it also helps veterans transition from military to 
civilian life. In 2008, the average unemployment rate of recently 
discharged military personnel was more than 30 percent higher than the 
rate for non-veterans. Creating an avenue to employment for veterans 
with medical experience is the least we can do to honor the brave men 
and women who have risked their lives in defense of their country.
  We owe it to veterans to help them find work and we owe our 
communities the protection they deserve. This is a win-win solution 
that allows us to do both.

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