[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 144 (Tuesday, September 17, 2024)]
[House]
[Page H5306]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      SUPPORTING AND IMPROVING RURAL EMS NEEDS REAUTHORIZATION ACT

  Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and pass the bill (S. 265) to reauthorize the rural emergency medical 
service training and equipment assistance program, and for other 
purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                 S. 265

       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 Reauthorization Act'' or the ``SIREN 
     Reauthorization Act''.

     SEC. 2. RURAL EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE 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 ``the Administrator of 
     the Health Resources and Services Administration (referred to 
     in this section as the `Secretary')'' and inserting ``the 
     Assistant Secretary,'';
       (2) in subsection (c)--
       (A) in paragraph (1)--
       (i) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``; and'' and 
     inserting a semicolon; and
       (ii) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(E) ensure emergency medical services personnel are 
     trained on mental health and substance use disorders and care 
     for individuals with such disorders in emergency situations; 
     and''; and
       (B) in paragraph (2)--
       (i) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``; or'' and inserting 
     a semicolon;
       (ii) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period and 
     inserting ``; or''; and
       (iii) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(D) acquire drugs or devices approved, cleared, or 
     otherwise legally marketed under the Federal Food, Drug, and 
     Cosmetic Act for emergency treatment of known or suspected 
     overdose.'';
       (3) by striking subsection (f);
       (4) by redesignating subsection (g) as subsection (f);
       (5) in subsection (f)(1), as so redesignated, by striking 
     ``2019 through 2023'' and inserting ``2024 through 2028'';
       (6) by redesignating such section 330J as section 553 of 
     the Public Health Service Act; and
       (7) by transferring such section 553, as so redesignated, 
     to appear at the end of part D of title V of the Public 
     Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290dd et seq.).

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Washington (Mrs. Rodgers) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. 
Pallone) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Washington.


                             General Leave

  Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend 
their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Washington?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as 
I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 265, the SIREN Reauthorization 
Act.
  EMS agencies play a critical role within our healthcare system, 
especially in rural areas where they may be the only provider for 
miles. More than half of rural EMS agencies are staffed solely by 
volunteers and oftentimes must raise their own funds just to continue 
operating.
  The SIREN Reauthorization Act would continue vital resources for the 
Rural Emergency Medical Services Training program, which helps support 
local EMS agencies with recruitment and training efforts as well as 
purchasing equipment, including overdose reversal medication.
  First responders are on the front lines of the opioid epidemic and 
must be able to properly acquire and administer overdose reversal 
medications to help save lives and prevent overdose deaths.
  Reauthorizing this program is crucial to help bolster the rural 
health workforce.
  Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support the bill, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in support of S. 265, the 
Supporting and Improving Rural EMS Needs Reauthorization Act, or the 
SIREN Reauthorization Act.
  First created in 2018, the SIREN Act created a grant program for 
public and nonprofit emergency medical services, agencies, and fire 
departments in rural areas to support the recruitment, retention, 
education, and equipping of EMS personnel.
  Administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 
Administration, SAMHSA, this grant program has become a key partner to 
rural communities to ensure their EMS systems have funding for the most 
basic of operations. These grants go beyond brick-and-mortar assistance 
by helping rural EMS agencies better train and recruit staff, acquire 
new equipment, and develop new ways to educate EMS personnel.
  These grants have provided critical funding to assist acquiring 
medication, medical supplies, increasing basic and advanced life 
support, and even replacing older response vehicles with newer or safer 
models.
  In communities where the nearest hospital or trauma center is several 
towns away, the small-town or frontier EMS workers are often the 
lifeline for patients in critical and vulnerable States. It is 
imperative that they have the Federal support they need to carry out 
this very important mission without interruption.
  I thank Representatives Dingell and Joyce for their leadership in the 
House and their companion legislation, H.R. 4646, which passed the 
House in May. I also thank Chair Rodgers and subcommittee Chair Guthrie 
for their collaboration to ensure this program continues to receive the 
bipartisan support that it so well deserves.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge that we support this bill to help rural EMS 
services. It is so important in rural areas, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I encourage a ``yes'' vote, 
and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Washington (Mrs. Rodgers) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, S. 265.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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