[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 74 (Wednesday, May 11, 2016)]
[House]
[Pages H2266-H2268]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        VETERAN EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN SUPPORT ACT OF 2016

  Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 1818) to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide 
grants to States to streamline State requirements and procedures for 
veterans with military emergency medical training to become civilian 
emergency medical technicians, as amended.

[[Page H2267]]

  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 1818

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Veteran Emergency Medical 
     Technician Support Act of 2016''.

     SEC. 2. ASSISTING VETERANS WITH MILITARY EMERGENCY MEDICAL 
                   TRAINING TO MEET REQUIREMENTS FOR BECOMING 
                   CIVILIAN EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS.

       Part B of title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 
     U.S.C. 243 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 314 
     the following:

     ``SEC. 315. ASSISTING VETERANS WITH MILITARY EMERGENCY 
                   MEDICAL TRAINING TO MEET REQUIREMENTS FOR 
                   BECOMING CIVILIAN EMERGENCY MEDICAL 
                   TECHNICIANS.

       ``(a) Program.--The Secretary shall establish a program 
     consisting of awarding demonstration grants to States to 
     streamline State requirements and procedures in order to 
     assist veterans who completed military emergency medical 
     technician training while serving in the Armed Forces of the 
     United States to meet certification, licensure, and other 
     requirements applicable to becoming an emergency medical 
     technician in the State.
       ``(b) Use of Funds.--Amounts received as a demonstration 
     grant under this section shall be used to prepare and 
     implement a plan to streamline State requirements and 
     procedures as described in subsection (a), including by--
       ``(1) determining the extent to which the requirements for 
     the education, training, and skill level of emergency medical 
     technicians in the State are equivalent to requirements for 
     the education, training, and skill level of military 
     emergency medical technicians; and
       ``(2) identifying methods, such as waivers, for military 
     emergency medical technicians to forgo or meet any such 
     equivalent State requirements.
       ``(c) Eligibility.--To be eligible for a grant under this 
     section, a State shall demonstrate that the State has a 
     shortage of emergency medical technicians.
       ``(d) Report.--The Secretary shall submit to the Congress 
     an annual report on the program under this section.
       ``(e) Funding.--No additional funds are authorized to be 
     appropriated for the purpose of carrying out this section. 
     This section shall be carried out using amounts otherwise 
     available for such purpose.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Kentucky (Mr. Guthrie) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gene Green) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Kentucky.


                             General Leave

  Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks 
and to insert extraneous materials into the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Kentucky?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise in support of H.R. 1818, the Veteran Emergency Medical 
Technician Support Act of 2016, introduced by my colleagues on the 
Committee on Energy and Commerce--Mr. Kinzinger from Illinois and Mrs. 
Capps from California.
  Members of the U.S. military who trained as combat medics face State 
licensing challenges when they try to find similar work after 
discharge. Many States do not recognize their qualifications as being 
applicable to the licensing requirements of the civilian healthcare 
system for emergency medical services, such as EMTs or paramedics. 
State licensing laws vary, and while some States make exceptions for 
former military medics to allow for reciprocity and a chance to sit for 
the licensing exam without repeating their training, many States do 
not.
  This legislation would provide grants to States with emergency 
medical technician shortages so as to help streamline State 
requirements for veterans to enter the EMT workforce without there 
being an unnecessary duplication of their training. This will help them 
more easily transition to their becoming civilian EMTs.
  I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  I rise in support of H.R. 1818, the Veteran Emergency Medical 
Technician Support Act.
  Our Nation's servicemen and -women receive some of the best medical 
training and experience in emergency medicine while serving our 
country. Their commitment to duty, training, real-world experience, and 
ability to work effectively in challenging environments make them 
exceptionally well suited for working as emergency medical technicians, 
EMTs, upon their return to civilian life.
  However, experienced military medics who want to work in civilian EMT 
jobs are often required to repeat their medical training at the most 
basic level to receive certification in order to be hired. Depending on 
the State, a returning veteran may have to obtain or renew their EMS 
license. The requirements can vary significantly by State. This is an 
unnecessary impediment for both our service personnel and our 
communities that are in need of qualified emergency medical service 
personnel. We should not be keeping veterans out of the workforce and 
withholding valuable medical personnel from supporting our communities.
  According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook 
Handbook, approximately 55,000 new civilian EMT and paramedic jobs have 
already been or will be created between 2012 and 2022. Highly skilled 
and properly trained veterans are well positioned to fill these 
essential provisions.
  H.R. 1818 will authorize a demonstration grant program for States to 
streamline certification and licensure requirements for returning 
veterans with military EMT training so they can work as civilian EMTs 
as quickly as possible. Streamlining the licensing process will make it 
easier for the civilian EMS community to hire experienced combat 
medics. This is not only beneficial to our veterans, but also to our 
communities, and it will enhance the level of care that is provided to 
our citizens.
  I thank the bill's sponsors--Representative Lois Capps, who is a 
member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce and of our Subcommittee 
on Health, and Congressman Adam Kinzinger--for introducing and 
championing this legislation.
  I urge my colleagues to support the Veteran Emergency Medical 
Technician Support Act.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Kinzinger), my colleague and good friend on the Committee 
on Energy and Commerce, who is a veteran Air Force pilot himself.
  Mr. KINZINGER of Illinois. I appreciate the gentleman for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, the Veteran Emergency Medical Technician Support Act 
will help our veterans and our communities by assisting States in 
reducing burdens for military medics who want to become civilian EMTs.
  Emergency medical technicians are an important part of the medical 
workforce and, as first responders, are critical to our goal of 
combating the thousands of opioid overdoses each year. EMTs respond to 
hundreds of thousands of overdoses. In 2014 alone, EMTs responded to 
240,000 calls at which naloxone was administered.
  According to the Department of Labor, the demand for EMTs and 
paramedics is expected to increase by 33 percent by the year 2020. This 
expected shortage is on top of some communities that are already 
reporting a shortage of EMTs.
  My legislation, H.R. 1818, the Veteran EMT Support Act, works to 
address this by helping States to streamline requirements and 
procedures in order to assist veterans who completed military EMT 
training in the Armed Forces to meet the certification, the licensure, 
and other requirements to become civilian EMTs.
  Although some service branches train military medics to EMT national 
certification standards, States generally have required additional 
training for State licensure. This creates a barrier for servicemembers 
who have received some of the best EMT training and have practiced 
their profession on the battlefield.
  The Veteran EMT Support Act is a commonsense way to help veterans 
transition into the civilian workforce, improve public health, and 
ensure communities have highly qualified, professional men and women to 
answer challenging emergency calls like opioid overdoses.
  I thank Congresswoman Capps for her strong support and advocacy of 
this

[[Page H2268]]

legislation, and I thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle. I 
urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to vote in favor of this 
legislation.
  Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the 
gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Capps).
  Mrs. CAPPS. I thank my colleague for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1818, the Veteran Emergency 
Medical Technician Support Act.
  As the ranking member of our committee just said, our military medics 
receive some of the best technical training in emergency medicine on 
the battlefield, and it is proven in extreme circumstances. However, 
when these medics return home and attempt to apply their skills to work 
in the civilian EMT sector, they are often forced to start back at 
square one. Repeating coursework isn't just a waste of time, it is also 
incredibly expensive. Similarly, civilian EMTs who are also in the 
military or in the reserves often must let their civilian 
certifications lapse when they are deployed.
  In either circumstance, this is an unfair burden on our military men 
and women who have bravely defended our country. It is also so 
shortsighted for our communities, which could benefit from their 
expertise. We need these valuable medical personnel to be working in 
our communities, especially as we now deal with this opioid crisis.
  That is why I am so pleased to have again joined with my Republican 
colleague, Representative Kinzinger, to introduce the Veteran EMT 
Support Act. The bill is a small but straightforward effort to help 
States streamline their EMT certification processes to take military 
medic training into account for civilian licensure. It is the least we 
can do to help ensure that our military medics' transition home is a 
little bit easier, and it is the least we can do to ensure that our 
communities have the best civilian first responder personnel working 
for them.
  I thank Chairmen Upton and Pitts and Ranking Members Pallone and 
Green and their staffs for their support in getting this bill to the 
floor. I urge my colleagues to support it.
  Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Costello).
  Mr. COSTELLO of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 
1818, the Veteran Emergency Medical Technician Support Act. I thank 
Congressman Kinzinger for his leadership on this bill. I also recognize 
the chief operations officer for the Western Berks EMS, in my district, 
Ed Moreland, who came to my office and shared with me what this bill 
was all about.
  It is a very easy bill to support. Not only is it an easy bill to 
support, but it is a very important, valuable bill for me and other 
Members to support because in my State of Pennsylvania where I used to 
be a county commissioner and, before that, a township supervisor, we 
would see firsthand the very valuable role that EMTs and paramedics 
provide to local communities. We also know that there is a demand for 
more EMTs and paramedics. In fact, over the next 8 years, it is 
estimated that there will be another 40,000 EMTs and paramedics that we 
will need in this country.
  I have the honor to serve on the House Committee on Veterans' 
Affairs. One of the things on which we focus on that committee is to 
work to find innovative solutions to help our veterans find successful 
careers when they return home and to utilize the skills that many 
servicemen and servicewomen obtain and possess during their service. 
Indeed, many of the best training and experience that military men and 
women get overseas is in the area of emergency medicine.
  When one looks at what it takes to be an EMT--the education, 
training, skill level, and what is required in the Commonwealth of 
Pennsylvania and in many other States--you realize that there is an 
equivalency that many veterans already have, which they obtained while 
serving in the military.
  This bill seeks to streamline the process so that if a veteran 
already has the training, the education, the skill level, the 
experience, we can basically not require that veteran to spend more 
time and more money going through the process of obtaining a 
certification. Instead, we can get him into the practice of actually 
serving his community and working in a professional environment. It 
gets qualified veterans to work quicker. It also fills the communities' 
safety needs quicker.
  It is commonsense, bipartisan legislation to address the demand for 
qualified professionals in our communities, and it provides veterans 
with good job opportunities. It is why I encourage my colleagues to 
support it. It is why I commend Congressman Kinzinger and why I thank 
Ed Moreland of the Western Berks EMS for bringing this to my attention.

                              {time}  1745

  Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to vote for H.R. 
1818.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1818, the 
``Veteran Emergency Medical Technician Support Act of 2015,'' which 
emphasizes the necessity to add requirements and procedures that assist 
veterans with military EMT training to meet state EMT certification, 
licensure, and other requirements.
  I support this legislation, because it benefits states with a 
shortage of emergency medical technicians.
  H.R. 1818 allows veterans to reenter society and assist the helpless 
within the emergency medical community.
  The bill enables the Public Health Service Act to direct the 
Department of Health and Human Services in an efficient approach for 
veteran assistance.
  Specifically, H.R. 1818 requires the secretary to establish a program 
consisting of awarding demonstration grants to states to streamline 
state requirements and procedures.
  H.R. 1818 determines the extent to which the requirements for 
education, training, and skill level of emergency medical technicians 
are equivalent to the requirements for military emergency medical 
technicians.
  The bill identifies methods to facilitate the attainment of state 
requirements for military emergency medical technicians.
  For proper usage of the grant provided by the bill, a state shall 
demonstrate its shortage of emergency medical technicians.
  This bill introduces a feasible alternative for veterans within the 
community.
  With consistent experience in high pressure situations and emergency 
environments, veterans are the appropriate choice for this profession.
  This is a comprehensive bill that will simultaneously provide 
opportunity for veterans while alleviating the shortage of staff in a 
medical specialty involving care for undifferentiated and unscheduled 
patients with illnesses or injuries requiring immediate medical 
attention.
  I urge all Members to join me in support of H.R. 1818.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Guthrie) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 1818, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.

                          ____________________