    [United States Statutes at Large, Volume 133, 116th Congress, 1st Session]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    Proclamation 9890 of May 17, 2019

    Emergency Medical Services Week, 2019

    By the President of the United States of America

    A Proclamation

    During Emergency Medical Services Week, we pay tribute to our Nation's
    Emergency Medical Services (EMS) providers, whose selfless dedication
    and extraordinary efforts help save countless lives each day. As the
    first link to emergency medical care, EMS personnel are a critical
    component of our healthcare system. Day or night, faithful EMS first
    responders--many of whom are volunteers--intensively prepare for and
    stand at the ready to help their fellow Americans through chaotic and
    distressing situations.
    In the last year, our Nation has experienced some of the largest and
    most destructive wildfires, hurricanes, tornadoes, and mudslides in
    recent history. In places like California, Florida, Alabama, North
    Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, and other parts of our
    country, EMS providers have selflessly performed their duties under
    challenging and hazardous conditions. At the risk of their own safety
    and well-being, EMS personnel acted quickly to deliver critical
    assistance. They moved residents who were homebound, hospitalized, or in
    nursing homes out of harm's way before and during natural disasters, and
    provided medical care for thousands of displaced citizens for weeks
    after the disasters.
    As President, I will never lose sight of the vital contributions that
    our country's emergency responders make to their fellow citizens. My
    Administration remains committed to working with State and local
    partners to ensure that EMS personnel are fully trained and prepared to
    meet the needs of their communities. Many rural EMS agencies, in
    particular, face unique challenges in delivering quality care. Last
    year, I signed into law the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018, which
    reauthorizes funding for EMS agencies in rural areas of our country to
    access the training and equipment they need to perform their duties
    safely, effectively, and efficiently. To allow EMS providers additional
    flexibility, the Department of Health and Human Services recently
    announced the Emergency Triage, Treat, and Transport model for care
    delivery. This model is designed to allow ambulatory care providers to
    be compensated in innovative ways through Medicare when responding to
    emergency medical calls from beneficiaries.
    First responders also continue to be at the forefront of dealing with
    the terrible effects of the opioid crisis, routinely responding to
    situations where someone has fallen victim to an opioid overdose. The
    Office of National Drug Control Policy has released extensive guidance
    on how emergency providers can stay safe when tending to opioid-related
    events. Additionally, my Administration has taken steps to expand the
    supply of life-saving naloxone to first responders nationwide. We must

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    ensure that our EMS personnel have the necessary training and resources
    to help those who tragically end up in dire need due to opioid
    overdoses.
    In every circumstance, and in crises where every second counts, EMS
    providers demonstrate courage and devotion to saving lives. They protect
    the health and safety of others with unmatched skill and extraordinary
    resolve. This month, and always, we express our endless gratitude and
    respect to the fine men and women of our country's EMS agencies for
    their continued commitment to excellence in emergency care.
    NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of
    America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
    the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 19 through May 25,
    2019, as Emergency Medical Services Week. I encourage all Americans to
    observe this occasion by showing their support for local EMS
    professionals through appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.
    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this seventeenth day of
    May, in the year of our Lord two thousand nineteen, and of the
    Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-
    third.
    DONALD J. TRUMP