[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 184 (Tuesday, November 7, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1068]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





   RECOGNIZING THE 2023 AMERICAN AMBULANCE ASSOCIATION STARS OF LIFE 
                                HONOREES

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. CLIFF BENTZ

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 7, 2023

  Mr. BENTZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the members of the 
emergency medical services (EMS) profession who are on the frontlines 
of providing vital emergency 9-1-1 and interfacility ambulance 
services. These individuals dedicate their lives to providing often 
lifesaving medical care and transport services to patients as well as 
entire communities.
  I would like to highlight a very special group of EMS professionals 
or ``Stars of Life'' who are being honored this week by the American 
Ambulance Association. These Stars of Life will be meeting with their 
members of Congress today and tomorrow and I strongly encourage my 
colleagues to take the time to chat with these exceptional individuals.
  For the past thirty years, the American Ambulance Association has 
honored those paramedics, emergency medical technicians (EMTs), 
dispatchers and other ambulance service personnel who exemplify what is 
best about the EMS field. The American Ambulance Association has 
appropriately designated these individuals as ``Stars of Life''. Past 
Stars of Life have included paramedics and EMTs who were part of 
evacuation and response efforts to natural disasters, acts of terrorism 
and public health emergencies.
  Every year, the dispatch of an ambulance is the first response to 
millions of medical emergencies. Often, the survival of a patient is 
enhanced by the prompt medical attention provided by paramedics and 
emergency medical technicians prior to the arrival at an emergency 
department. As a result of the selfless acts of these courageous and 
devoted professions, the lives of thousands of Americans are saved each 
year. While these professionals do not expect to receive recognition 
for their work, they deserve our outmost gratitude.
  Of equal importance, this program also pays tribute to those 
ambulance service personnel whose heroic acts or community service 
activities may not have made the news, but were just as meaningful to 
the people they aided. They are truly America's health care safety net.
  I am especially proud of the six Stars of Life from Oregon being 
recognized this year who work for five different ambulance service 
organizations and serve Oregonians with pride. They are Carol Boies, 
Sean Fuller, Victor Hoffer, Daniel Lee, Kristina Ploeger, and Don 
Thomas. I had the opportunity to meet with Kristina Ploeger from Baker 
City today and can tell you firsthand that she is an exceptional 
individual and a fantastic representative of the EMS profession.

                          ____________________