[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 120 (Tuesday, July 17, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H6338-H6339]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
AUTHORIZING NATIONAL EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES MEMORIAL FOUNDATION TO
ESTABLISH COMMEMORATIVE WORK
Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 1037) 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, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 1037
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. AUTHORIZATION TO ESTABLISH COMMEMORATIVE WORK.
(a) In General.--The National Emergency Medical Services
Memorial 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) Prohibition on the Use of Federal Funds.--
(1) In general.--Federal funds may not be used to pay any
expense of the establishment of the commemorative work under
this section.
(2) Responsibility of national emergency medical services
memorial foundation.--The National Emergency Medical Services
Memorial 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.
(d) Deposit of Excess Funds.--
(1) In general.--If upon payment of all expenses for the
establishment of the memorial (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, 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 upon 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, 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 (as appropriate) following the process
provided in section 8906(b)(4) of title 40, United States
Code, for accounts established under 8906(b)(2) or (3) of
title 40, United States Code.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
California (Mr. McClintock) and the gentleman from Arizona (Mr.
Grijalva) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.
General Leave
Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and
include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from California?
There was no objection.
Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, each year 850,000 EMS providers answer more than 30
million calls to serve 22 million patients in need at a moment's notice
and without reservation. For these heroes who serve on the front lines
of medicine, sacrifice is a part of their calling. EMTs and paramedics
have a rate of injury that is about three times the national average
for all occupations, and some pay the ultimate price in the service of
helping others.
The men and women of the emergency medical services profession face
danger every day to save lives and help their neighbors in crisis. They
respond to incidents ranging from a single person's medical emergency
to natural and manmade disasters, including terrorist attacks. But
while their first responder peers in law enforcement and firefighting
have been honored with national memorials, EMS providers have not. H.R.
1037 aims to change that.
The National Emergency Medical Services Memorial Foundation exists to
honor, recognize, and remember the commitment, service, and sacrifice
of our Nation's EMS heroes. H.R. 1037 would authorize this foundation
to place a commemorative work on Federal land in the District of
Columbia to commemorate the commitment and service represented by the
EMS community. The foundation will be solely responsible for funding
the project, and no Federal funds will be required.
Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the measure, and I reserve the
balance of my time.
Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Lynch), who is the principal sponsor
of the legislation.
Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from California
for his words of support and also thank the gentleman from Arizona for
the courtesy of yielding me this time.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to express strong support for my bill, H.R. 1037,
the National Emergency Medical Services Commemorative Work Act. This
bipartisan legislation will create a National Emergency Medical
Services Memorial Foundation to establish a commemorative memorial
located here on Federal land in Washington, D.C., that will highlight
and honor the commitment and sacrifice of emergency medical personnel
across the United States.
As the chairman noted, each year, there are 850,000 first responders
of the emergency medical services who answer over 30 million calls
while serving 22 million Americans who are in need of lifesaving care.
Americans rely on the courage and selfless sacrifice of the men and
women of the emergency medical services, and we all deeply appreciate
their commitment to maintaining safety and medical security in our
country.
{time} 1800
Mr. Speaker, this memorial will serve as a symbol of their sacrifice
during the darkest moments in our Nation's history.
For example, this September will mark the 17th anniversary of the
attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City. On that day, within
minutes of the attack, more than 100 EMS units and dozens of private
ambulances raced to the site, setting up triage centers to treat the
wounded. Of the nearly 3,000 victims that died on September 11th, 10
were courageous EMS personnel.
More than a decade later, in my home city of Boston, Massachusetts,
[[Page H6339]]
EMS providers were literally on site within seconds of the explosions
during the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings. As a result of their swift
and well-coordinated rescue efforts, led by my dear friend and South
Boston native, the late Boston EMS special ops director Captain Bob
``Sarge'' Haley, EMS personnel were able to treat the 260 people who
were injured.
Lauded for his skills in designing and implementing world-class
special ops measures in the city of Boston, Captain Sarge Haley's
leadership during the events of that day no doubt saved dozens of lives
and is just another example of the sacrifice and heroism that H.R. 1037
seeks to memorialize.
Lastly, Mr. Speaker, EMS personnel have been first on site for some
of our Nation's deadliest mass shootings. During the Las Vegas shooting
at the Route 91 Harvest music festival last fall, EMT Brittany Speer,
who was attending the event with her family, set up a triage center
after the shooting occurred.
For years, EMS providers like Ms. Speer have treated and transported
victims in a professional and compassionate manner. This efficient and
effective response is a result of countless mass casualty exercises
that EMS personnel undertake.
Mr. Speaker, this memorial is long overdue. These examples are just a
small fraction of the countless instances in which EMS personnel have
sacrificed and served our Nation. Every day, EMS personnel are exposed
to countless risks and dangers in order to provide critical care for
those who are in need.
It is proper to recognize the efforts of our dedicated EMS first
responders and memorialize the personal sacrifice made by more than 600
members of the Nation's emergency medical service and, in turn, by
their families and loved ones.
As Members of Congress, we should pass this bipartisan bill and begin
the creation of the commemorative memorial to EMS personnel. These
individuals have rightfully earned this recognition, and I urge my
colleagues on both sides of the aisle to stand as one and pass H.R.
1037. Again, I thank the gentleman from California for his support.
Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Massachusetts
for bringing this bill to us. I urge its adoption, and I yield back the
balance of time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from California (Mr. McClintock) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1037, 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. LYNCH. 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.
____________________