[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 93 (Wednesday, June 6, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3264-S3265]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       NATIONAL EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES COMMEMORATIVE WORK ACT

       A bill (S. 1692) to authorize the National Emergency 
     Medical Services Memorial Foundation to establish a 
     commemorative work in the District of Columbia and its 
     environs, and for other purposes.

  Mr. McCONNELL. I ask unanimous consent that the bills, en bloc, be 
considered read a third time.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill (H.R. 1900) was ordered to a third reading and was read the 
third time.
  The bill (S. 2857) was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading 
and was read the third time.
  The bill (H.R. 1397) was ordered to a third reading and was read the 
third time.
  The bill (S. 1692) was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading 
and was read the third time.
  Mr. McCONNELL. I know of no further debate on the bills en bloc.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there further debate?
  Hearing none, the bills having been read the third time, the question 
is, Shall the bills pass en bloc?
  The bill (H.R. 1900) was passed.
  The bill (S. 2857) was passed, as follows:

                                S. 2857

       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 ``National Nordic Museum 
     Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds that--
       (1) the Nordic Museum in Seattle, Washington, is the only 
     museum in the United States dedicated to Nordic history, 
     culture, and art;
       (2) Nordic people have long contributed to the rich 
     cultural heritage of the United States;
       (3) the Nordic Museum serves as a unique and valuable 
     resource locally and nationally for expanding knowledge 
     relating to--
       (A) Nordic heritage; and
       (B) the impact Nordic heritage has had throughout the 
     United States;
       (4) a new state-of-the-art facility was opened to house the 
     Nordic Museum on May 5, 2018, making Nordic history, culture, 
     and art even more engaging and accessible to the public;
       (5) to provide funds and exhibits for the new Nordic 
     Museum, numerous public and private entities and many private 
     individuals partnered together, including--
       (A) the State of Washington;
       (B) King County, Washington;
       (C) the Nordic Council, which is composed of 
     representatives from the national parliaments of Nordic 
     countries; and
       (D) the national museums of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, 
     Norway, and Sweden;
       (6) the Nordic Museum is--
       (A) a significant resource for preserving and celebrating 
     the history, culture, and art of Nordic immigrants in the 
     United States; and
       (B) the only museum in the United States that exists for 
     the exclusive purpose of preserving, interpreting, and 
     providing education about Nordic culture and heritage; and
       (7) the Nordic Museum promotes valuable international 
     relations between the United States and the Nordic countries 
     of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden.

     SEC. 3. DESIGNATION OF NATIONAL NORDIC MUSEUM.

       (a) Designation.--The Nordic Museum located at 2655 N.W. 
     Market Street, Seattle, Washington, is designated as the 
     ``National Nordic Museum''.
       (b) Effect of Designation.--
       (1) In general.--The museum designated by subsection (a) is 
     not a unit of the National Park System.
       (2) Use of federal funds.--The designation of the museum by 
     subsection (a) shall not require Federal funds to be expended 
     for any purpose related to the museum.
  The bill (H.R. 1397) was passed.
  The bill (S. 1692) was passed, as follows:

                                S. 1692

       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 ``National Emergency Medical 
     Services Commemorative Work Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds that--
       (1) each year, throughout the United States, the 850,000 
     first responders of Emergency Medical Services answer more 
     than 30,000,000 calls to serve 22,000,000 patients in need of 
     life-saving care and comfort at a moment of notice and 
     without reservation;
       (2) with little regard for their own safety and in the face 
     of all hazards, the first responders of Emergency Medical 
     Services respond across the spectrum of incidents from a 
     medical emergency of a single person to naturally occurring 
     or manmade disasters, including terrorist attacks that 
     threaten the entire United States;
       (3) the commitment of the first responders of Emergency 
     Medical Services to others, at a moment of notice and despite 
     risk, exemplifies the finest traditions of the spirit of the 
     people of the United States;
       (4) as an element of the homeland defense strategy of the 
     United States, Emergency Medical Services stands on the 
     ``Nation's first line of defense in the prevention and 
     mitigation of risk from terrorist attacks, man-made 
     incidents, and natural disasters'';
       (5) the first responders of Emergency Medical Services, 
     along with the members of Law Enforcement and Fire Services, 
     serving in both the public and private sectors as career and 
     volunteer emergency medical service providers--
       (A) are a critical element of the homeland and national 
     security efforts of the United States; and
       (B) provide for the domestic tranquility of the citizens of 
     the United States;
       (6) all too often the risks associated with the critical 
     role of Emergency Medical Services results in an unacceptable 
     rate of injury and fatality to first responders;
       (7) statistics compiled by the Department of Labor and the 
     National Highway Safety Administration indicate that 
     Emergency Medical Services providers--
       (A) die in the line of duty at a rate more than twice the 
     national average for all occupational fatalities; and
       (B) experience an injury rate of virtually 100 percent 
     during the careers of the providers;
       (8) the United States has historically and continually 
     relied on the selfless and ultimate sacrifices made by 
     citizens in service to the United States and the families and 
     loved ones of citizens in service to the United States, in 
     order to maintain the domestic tranquility, safety, and 
     security of the United States;
       (9) the first responders of Emergency Medical Services 
     continue to serve in this finest tradition, in the face of 
     unacceptable sacrifice, risk, and danger in service to the 
     United States and the citizens of the United States;
       (10) the scope of responsibility assumed by the first 
     responders of Emergency Medical Services is broad and unique; 
     and
       (11) the sacrifice and commitment of the first responders 
     of Emergency Medical Services in service to the United States 
     is deserving of a commemorative work that recognizes the 
     sacrifice and commitment of the first responders.

[[Page S3265]]

  


     SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION TO ESTABLISH COMMEMORATIVE WORK BY THE 
                   NATIONAL EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES MEMORIAL 
                   FOUNDATION.

       (a) In General.--The National Emergency Medical Services 
     Memorial Foundation (referred to in this section as the 
     ``Foundation'') may establish a commemorative work on Federal 
     land in the District of Columbia and its environs to 
     commemorate the commitment and service represented by 
     Emergency Medical Services.
       (b) Compliance With Standards for Commemorative Works.--The 
     establishment of the commemorative work under this section 
     shall be in accordance with chapter 89 of title 40, United 
     States Code (commonly known as the ``Commemorative Works 
     Act'').
       (c) Payment of Expenses.--
       (1) Responsibility of national emergency medical services 
     memorial foundation.--The Foundation shall be solely 
     responsible for acceptance of contributions for, and payment 
     of the expenses of, the establishment of the commemorative 
     work under this section.
       (2) Use of federal funds prohibited.--Federal funds may not 
     be used to pay any expense of the establishment of the 
     commemorative work under this section.
       (d) Deposit of Excess Funds.--
       (1) In general.--If on payment of all expenses for the 
     establishment of the commemorative work (including the 
     maintenance and preservation amount required by section 
     8906(b)(1) of title 40, United States Code), there remains a 
     balance of funds received for the establishment of the 
     commemorative work under this section, the Foundation shall 
     transmit the amount of the balance to the Secretary of the 
     Interior for deposit in the account provided for in section 
     8906(b)(3) of title 40, United States Code.
       (2) On expiration of authority.--If on expiration of the 
     authority for the commemorative work under section 8903(e) of 
     title 40, United States Code, there remains a balance of 
     funds received for the establishment of the commemorative 
     work under this section, the Foundation shall transmit the 
     amount of the balance to a separate account with the National 
     Park Foundation for memorials, to be available to the 
     Secretary of the Interior or Administrator of General 
     Services, as appropriate, in accordance with the process 
     provided in section 8906(b)(4) of title 40, United States 
     Code, for accounts established under paragraph (2) or (3) of 
     section 8906(b) of title 40, United States Code.
  Mr. McCONNELL. I ask unanimous consent that the motions to reconsider 
be considered made and laid upon the table, all en bloc.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Without objection, it is so ordered.

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