[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 129 (Thursday, September 23, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1732]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 EMERGENCY MEDIC TRANSITION ACT OF 2010

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. MELISSA L. BEAN

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 22, 2010

  Ms. BEAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3199--Emergency 
Medic Transition, EMT, Act. As an original cosponsor and co-author of 
this bill, I'm pleased that policy language I authored regarding 
reciprocity for military emergency medical technicians can be 
considered today. This provision establishes reciprocity between the 
armed services and states regarding certification for emergency medical 
technicians, EMTs.
  In 2008, the State of Illinois passed legislation which allows 
military ``EMT'' training of an honorably discharged member of the 
armed forces to be considered as `reciprocal' for its licensure 
requirements. Working with Representatives Harman and Herseth Sandlin, 
I included a similar provision in H.R. 3199, The Emergency Medic 
Training, EMT, Act, a comprehensive bill that will assist our EMT vets 
with training, grants, and education opportunities when they arrive 
home.
  The need for such direction to states remains necessary. Our men and 
women in uniform should be able to use their real-time training and 
education in the field to help those in emergencies here at home, 
without the cost and redundancy of retraining upon their return.
  I want to thank Congresswomen Harman and Herseth Sandlin for their 
hard work and support of our returning EMTs as well as their efforts to 
bring the underlying bill to the floor. I encourage my colleagues to 
vote ``yes.''

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