[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 47 (Monday, March 16, 2026)]
[House]
[Pages H2523-H2524]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1730
       NATIONAL EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES MEMORIAL EXTENSION ACT

  Mr. WITTMAN. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 2196) to provide for an extension of the legislative 
authority of the National Emergency Medical Services Memorial 
Foundation to establish a commemorative work in the District of 
Columbia and its environs, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 2196

       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 Memorial Extension Act''.

     SEC. 2. EXTENSION OF LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY FOR MEMORIAL 
                   ESTABLISHMENT.

       Section 1(b) of Public Law 115-275 is amended by striking 
     the period at the end and inserting ``, except that any 
     reference in section 8903(e) of that chapter to the 
     expiration at the end of or extension beyond a seven-year 
     period shall be considered to be a reference to an expiration 
     on or extension beyond the date that is 7 years after the 
     date of enactment of the National Emergency Medical Services 
     Memorial Extension Act.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Virginia (Mr. Wittman) and the gentlewoman from Maryland (Ms. Elfreth) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Virginia.


                             General Leave

  Mr. WITTMAN. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include 
extraneous material on H.R. 2196, the bill now under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Virginia?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. WITTMAN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2196, the National 
Emergency Medical Services Memorial Extension Act, which is sponsored 
by Representative Hudson.
  Emergency medical service providers are often the first people on the 
scene in a moment of crisis. They respond to accidents, natural 
disasters, public health emergencies, and everyday calls for help. More 
than 1 million Americans serve as EMS providers across the country 
under one shared mission: to save lives and protect the public.
  Despite that service, there is still no permanent memorial in our 
Nation's Capital dedicated to EMS professionals who have lost their 
lives in the line of duty.
  In 2018, Congress authorized the National Emergency Medical Services 
Memorial Foundation to establish such a memorial. Since then, the 
foundation has moved through the Federal approval process and is now 
working on site selection and environmental review. Like many memorial 
projects, progress has been steady but slow due to design approvals and 
the need to raise private funds.
  Unfortunately, the authorization for this important memorial expired 
last year, and the foundation needs this authorization extended to 
finally complete its mission.
  Representative Hudson's bill provides a straightforward solution. His 
legislation extends the foundation's legislative authority for an 
additional 7 years, allowing their work to continue so that this 
memorial can finally be completed.
  Importantly, this memorial will remain funded entirely through 
private contributions, with no cost to the taxpayers. This legislation 
also does not expand the project or change its purpose. It simply 
ensures that the effort to honor fallen EMS providers can be finished.
  Madam Speaker, I thank Representative Hudson for his leadership on 
this bill. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2196, and I reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Ms. ELFRETH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2196, 
offered by my colleague, Representative Hudson of North Carolina, which 
provides the National Emergency Medical Services Memorial Foundation 
with a straightforward extension to establish the National Emergency 
Medical Services Memorial right here in Washington, D.C.
  This is a deeply meaningful and important project that deserves our 
full support. Congress first authorized the establishment of this 
memorial in 2018, and the foundation's work to finalize its design and 
construction is almost complete.
  Unfortunately, the initial 7-year authorization recently expired. 
Today, this bill allows us to take the simple step and let the 
foundation continue its work to honor the service and sacrifice of the 
medical emergency service community for generations to come.
  Every year, EMS providers around the Nation respond to millions of 
calls, ranging from health emergencies to mass shootings. Whether they 
serve at the Federal, State, local, private, volunteer, military, or 
Tribal level, these brave men and women are dedicated to commitment and 
service.
  The memorial will be a small token of our appreciation for those who 
help others when they need it most. It is the least we can do to give 
to these heroes, who serve our communities around the Nation and across 
the globe, a place of honor in our Nation's Capital.
  I look forward to the completion of this meaningful memorial, and I 
urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. WITTMAN. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time. I am 
prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. ELFRETH. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this 
critical and timely piece of legislation, and I yield back the balance 
of my time.
  Mr. WITTMAN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Madam Speaker, the National Emergency Medical Services Memorial 
Extension Act provides the time needed to complete a project that 
honors the service and sacrifice of EMS providers without imposing a 
cost on taxpayers.
  Representative Hudson's legislation keeps the memorial on track and 
ensures that EMS professionals are recognized alongside other public 
safety heroes in our Nation's Capital.
  Once again, I thank Representative Hudson for his leadership on this 
effort and for his dedication to those who serve this Nation humbly and 
selflessly.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this 
legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by

[[Page H2524]]

the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wittman) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 2196, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________