[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 76 (Thursday, May 10, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S2628]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. DURBIN (for himself, Mr. Roberts, Ms. Baldwin, and Ms. 
        Stabenow):
  S. 2830. A bill to reauthorize the rural emergency medical services 
training and equipment assistance program under section 330J of the 
Public Health Service Act; to the Committee on Health, Education, 
Labor, and Pensions.
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of 
the bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 2830

       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 ``Supporting and Improving 
     Rural EMS Needs Act of 2018'' or the ``SIREN Act of 2018''.

     SEC. 2. REAUTHORIZATION OF RURAL EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES 
                   TRAINING AND EQUIPMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

       Section 330J of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 
     254c-15) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``in rural areas'' and 
     inserting ``in rural areas or to residents of rural areas''; 
     and
       (2) by striking subsections (b) through (g) and inserting 
     the following:
       ``(b) Eligibility; Application.--To be eligible to receive 
     grant under this section, an entity shall--
       ``(1) be--
       ``(A) an emergency medical services agency operated by a 
     local or tribal government (including fire-based and non-fire 
     based); or
       ``(B) an emergency medical services agency that is 
     described in section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 
     1986 and exempt from tax under section 501(a) of such Code; 
     and
       ``(2) submit an application to the Secretary at such time, 
     in such manner, and containing such information as the 
     Secretary may require.
       ``(c) Use of Funds.--An entity shall use amounts received 
     through a grant under subsection (a) to--
       ``(1) recruit and retain emergency medical services 
     personnel, which may include volunteer personnel;
       ``(2) train emergency medical services personnel as 
     appropriate to obtain and maintain licenses and 
     certifications relevant to service in an emergency medical 
     services agency described in subsection (b)(1);
       ``(3) conduct courses that qualify graduates to serve in an 
     emergency medical services agency described in subsection 
     (b)(1) in accordance with State and local requirements;
       ``(4) fund specific training to meet Federal or State 
     licensing or certification requirements;
       ``(5) develop new ways to educate emergency health care 
     providers through the use of technology-enhanced educational 
     methods;
       ``(6) acquire emergency medical services equipment; or
       ``(7) acquire personal protective equipment for emergency 
     medical services personnel as required by the Occupational 
     Safety and Health Administration.
       ``(d) Grant Amounts.--Each grant awarded under this section 
     shall be in an amount not to exceed $200,000.
       ``(e) Definitions.--In this section:
       ``(1) The term `emergency medical services'--
       ``(A) means resources used by a public or private nonprofit 
     licensed entity to deliver medical care outside of a medical 
     facility under emergency conditions that occur as a result of 
     the condition of the patient; and
       ``(B) includes services delivered (either on a compensated 
     or volunteer basis) by an emergency medical services provider 
     or other provider that is licensed or certified by the State 
     involved as an emergency medical technician, a paramedic, or 
     an equivalent professional (as determined by the State).
       ``(2) The term `rural area' means--
       ``(A) a nonmetropolitan statistical area;
       ``(B) an area designated as a rural area by any law or 
     regulation of a State; or
       ``(C) a rural census tract of a metropolitan statistical 
     area (as determined under the most recent rural urban 
     commuting area code as set forth by the Office of Management 
     and Budget).
       ``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--
       ``(1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated 
     to carry out this section $20,000,000 for each fiscal years 
     2019 through 2023.
       ``(2) Administrative costs.--The Secretary may use not more 
     than 10 percent of the amount appropriated pursuant to 
     paragraph (1) for a fiscal year for the administrative 
     expenses of carrying out this section.''.

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