NAEMT is pleased to announce that Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-MI) and Congressman Richard Hudson (R-NC) continue their leadership of the Congressional EMS Caucus for the 117th Congress
The EMS Caucus educates and promotes the unique and critical role of EMS in our communities. Paramedics and Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs)—like law enforcement and fire services—are critical first responders, working around the clock and putting their lives at risk every day to serve their communities. Nationwide, EMS practitioners—including paramedics, emergency medical technicians, and emergency medical responders—respond to tens of millions of calls each year and make life-altering decisions for their patients every day. Whether they are public, private, or a combination of both, all EMS systems have persevered through the additional burdens placed on them by the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. The Caucus works toward and supports policies that:
- Support and strengthen a resilient EMS workforce;
- Improve the ability of EMS to provide life-saving emergent, urgent and preventive patient care;
- Promote innovation in EMS that leads to more effective ways of delivering health care;
- Strengthen the ability of EMS to respond to disasters, public health crises and mass casualty incidents;
- Support military medics transitioning into civilian EMS; and
- Ensure the safety of EMS patients and practitioners.
The EMS Caucus provides a platform to promote, educate, and increase awareness around federal policy issues impacting EMS and serves as a resource for policy questions on all prehospital and out-of-hospital health care issues.
“EMS professionals are a critical part of our health and public safety systems, and they provide life-saving services in some of the most difficult circumstances,” said Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-12). “I look forward to working with my fellow co-chair Congressman Richard Hudson on bipartisan initiatives to support these dedicated first responders and strengthen our EMS systems.”
“Our EMS professionals are on the front lines of health care and are often the difference between life and death for patients with traumatic or life-threatening injuries,” said Congressman Richard Hudson (NC-08). “As we have also seen, our EMS professionals serve a critical role in our nation’s disaster and pandemic response. We thank them for their service, and I look forward to partnering with my friend, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell, in continuing to lead the bipartisan Congressional EMS Caucus. Together, we can help advance the unique and important federal policy issues that allow our EMS first responders to do what they do best—save lives and serve our local communities.”
NAEMT President Bruce Evans said, “NAEMT deeply appreciates the leadership of Representatives Dingell and Hudson on this bipartisan effort. In each community across our nation, EMS provides an essential service to those in need. Congressional understanding and support for the lifesaving work of EMS is critical to ensuring that legislative initiatives contribute to strengthening the EMS workforce, providing the resources necessary to serve our patients and respond to disasters and mass casualty events, and sustaining the long-term viability of our nation’s EMS system.”