[House Report 105-539]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



105th Congress                                                   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 2d Session                                                     105-539
_______________________________________________________________________


 
    NATIONAL EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES MEMORIAL SERVICE RESOLUTION

                                _______
                                

May 18, 1998.--Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed

_______________________________________________________________________


  Mr. Bliley, from the Committee on Commerce, submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                    [To accompany H. Con. Res. 171]

    The Committee on Commerce, to whom was referred the 
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 171) declaring the memorial 
service sponsored by the National Emergency Medical Services 
(EMS) Memorial Service Board of Directors to honor emergency 
medical services personnel to be the ``National Emergency 
Medical Services Memorial Service'', having considered the 
same, report favorably thereon without amendment and recommend 
that the concurrent resolution be agreed to.

                                CONTENTS

                                                                   Page
Purpose and Summary..............................................     1
Background and Need for Legislation..............................     2
Hearings.........................................................     2
Committee Consideration..........................................     2
Roll Call Votes..................................................     2
Committee Oversight Findings.....................................     3
Committee on Government Reform and Oversight.....................     3
New Budget Authority, Entitlement Authority, and Tax Expenditures     3
Committee Cost Estimate..........................................     3
Congressional Budget Office Estimate.............................     3
Federal Mandates Statement.......................................     4
Advisory Committee Statement.....................................     4
Constitutional Authority Statement...............................     4
Applicability to Legislative Branch..............................     4
Section-by-Section Analysis of the Legislation...................     4
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported............     5

                          Purpose and Summary

    The purpose of House Concurrent Resolution 171 is to 
commend volunteer rescue squads and emergency medical services 
personnel who give their time and energy to saving lives across 
the country and to honor emergency medical services personnel 
who have died in the line of duty by declaring the annual 
memorial service sponsored by the National Emergency Medical 
Services (EMS) Memorial Service Board of Directors to be the 
``National Emergency Medical Services Memorial Service''.

                  Background and Need for Legislation

    Volunteer rescue squads and emergency medical personnel 
have been helping their fellow Americans throughout the country 
since 1928, when the Nation's first volunteer rescue squad was 
established by Julian Stanley Wise in Roanoke, Virginia. Since 
that time, thousands of emergency medical services personnel 
have given their time, energy, and even their lives, to make 
America's communities and families safer.
    Today, the Department of Health and Human Services 
estimates that 170,000 Americans require emergency medical 
services on an average day, which averages to over 60,000,000 
emergency calls annually. Emergency medical services personnel 
affect the life of every American, either directly or 
indirectly, by their uniquely skilled and dedicated efforts.
    Despite their continuing sacrifices, emergency medical 
service personnel are often the unsung heroes of our 
communities. One community, Roanoke, Virginia, has sought to 
provide more recognition to emergency medical services 
personnel through the establishment of ``To The Rescue'', a 
museum devoted to emergency medical services personnel. The 
community of Roanoke, Virginia is also the site of an annual 
Emergency Medical Service Memorial Service, sponsored by the 
National Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Board of Directors, 
that honors the men and women who have made the ultimate 
sacrifice by giving their lives on behalf of the people they 
serve. To date, 119 emergency medical services personnel from 
35 States have been so honored.

                                Hearings

    The Committee on Commerce has not held hearings on the 
legislation.

                        Committee Consideration

    On May 12, 1998, the Subcommittee on Health and Environment 
met in open markup session and approved House Concurrent 
Resolution 171 for Full Committee consideration, without 
amendment, by a voice vote.
    On May 14, 1998, the Full Committee met in open markup 
session and ordered House Concurrent Resolution 171 reported to 
the House, without amendment, by a voice vote.

                            Roll Call Votes

    Clause 2(l)(2)(B) of Rule XI of the Rules of the House 
requires the Committee to list the recorded votes on the motion 
to report legislation and amendments thereto. There were no 
recorded votes taken in connection with ordering House 
Concurrent Resolution 171 reported. A motion by Mr. Bliley to 
order House Concurrent Resolution 171 reported to the House, 
without amendment, was agreed to by a voice vote, a quorum 
being present.

                      Committee Oversight Findings

    Pursuant to clause 2(l)(3)(A) of Rule XI of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives, the Committee did not hold 
oversight or legislative hearings on this legislation.

              Committee on Government Reform and Oversight

    Pursuant to clause 2(l)(3)(D) of Rule XI of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives, no oversight findings have been 
submitted to the Committee by the Committee on Government 
Reform and Oversight.

   New Budget Authority, Entitlement Authority, and Tax Expenditures

    In compliance with clause 2(l)(3)(B) of Rule XI of the 
Rules of the House of Representatives, the Committee finds that 
House Concurrent Resolution 171 would result in no new or 
increased budget authority, entitlement authority, or tax 
expenditures or revenues.

                        Committee Cost Estimate

    The Committee adopts as its own the cost estimate prepared 
by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to 
section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.

                  Congressional Budget Office Estimate

    Pursuant to clause 2(l)(3)(C) of Rule XI of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives, the following is the cost 
estimate provided by the Congressional Budget Office pursuant 
to section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974:

                                     U.S. Congress,
                               Congressional Budget Office,
                                      Washington, DC, May 18, 1998.
Hon. Tom Bliley,
Chairman, Committee on Commerce,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has 
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H. Con. Res. 171.
    If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be 
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Cyndi 
Dudzinski.
            Sincerely,
                                           June E. O'Neill,
                                                          Director.
    Enclosure.

House Concurrent Resolution 171

    CBO estimates that enacting this resolution would have no 
significant effect on the federal budget. Because the 
resolution would not affect direct spending or receipts, pay-
as-you-go procedures would not apply. The Unfunded Mandates 
Reform Act of 1995 does not apply to concurrent resolutions.
    House Concurrent Resolution 171 would declare the memorial 
service held in Roanoke, Virginia, and sponsored by the 
National Emergency Medical Services Memorial Service Board of 
Directors to be the ``National Emergency Medical Services 
Memorial Service.'' This service is held to honor emergency 
medical services personnel who have died in the line of duty.
    The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Cyndi Dudzinski. 
This estimate was approved by Paul N. Van de Water, Assistant 
Director for Budget Analysis.

                       Federal Mandates Statement

    The Committee adopts as its own the estimate of Federal 
mandates prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget 
Office pursuant to section 423 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform 
Act.

                      Advisory Committee Statement

    No advisory committees within the meaning of section 5(b) 
of the Federal Advisory Committee Act were created by this 
legislation.

                   Constitutional Authority Statement

    Pursuant to clause 2(l)(4) of Rule XI of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives, the Committee finds that the 
Constitutional authority for this legislation is provided in 
Article I, section 8, clause 3, which grants Congress the power 
to regulate commerce with foreign nations, among the several 
States, and with the Indian tribes.

                  Applicability to Legislative Branch

    The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to 
the terms and conditions of employment or access to public 
services or accommodations within the meaning of section 
102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act.

             Section-by-Section Analysis of the Legislation

Preamble and enacting clause

    This section acknowledges the dedication and bravery of the 
men and women who comprise the nation's volunteer rescue squads 
and emergency medical services personnel and recognizes the 
efforts of the community of Roanoke, Virginia, to honor those 
individuals from across the country who have made the ultimate 
sacrifice. This section designates the annual memorial service 
held in Roanoke, Virginia and sponsored by the National 
Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Memorial Service Board of 
Directors to be the ``National Emergency Medical Services 
Memorial Service''.

Section 2. Rule of construction

    This section stipulates that nothing in this resolution 
shall be construed to place the National Emergency Medical 
Services Memorial Service under Federal authority or to require 
any expenditure of Federal funds.

         Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported

    This legislation does not amend any existing Federal 
statute.