Sponsors (26)
Introduced March 18, 2025 by Marie Gluesenkamp Perez · Last progress March 18, 2025
The bill tackles a documented EMS workforce shortfall with federal grants, veteran transition aid, training upgrades, and a mandated study—improving emergency care access and workforce stability while requiring steady federal spending, creating administrative burdens, and risking uneven distribution of benefits.
Rural and other underserved communities will get stronger access to emergency care because the bill provides federal recruitment and training grants to expand the local EMT/paramedic workforce.
Veterans with military EMT/paramedic training will be helped into civilian certification through up to $20M/year in grants to cover testing, licensure, and training, lowering financial barriers to employment.
The bill creates data-driven documentation (a projected 42,000 shortfall) and a required study with recommendations to give policymakers actionable information to target hiring, training, and regulatory fixes.
The bill increases ongoing federal spending (e.g., $50M/year grants plus $20M/year for veterans and administrative set-asides), which is borne by taxpayers and could displace other priorities.
Recipient agencies and states will face new administrative and reporting burdens—and states may incur implementation or matching costs—which could slow program rollout and divert resources from operations.
Grant design (20% rural set-aside, priority groups, and $1M caps) may leave some smaller non-rural agencies or large regional programs underfunded and unable to support extensive multi-year initiatives.
Based on analysis of 5 sections of legislative text.
Creates HHS grants to recruit and train EMTs/paramedics, funds state veteran-transition grants for civilian certification, and directs a Labor study of EMS workforce needs.
Creates federal grant programs to recruit, train, and retain emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics, funds state demonstration grants to help veterans with military EMT/paramedic training get civilian certification, and directs a Labor Department study of EMS workforce supply and demand. Authorizes dedicated funding for the grant programs for fiscal years 2026–2030 and requires reports to Congress and public reporting on program results. Grants administered by HHS/ASPR will support recruitment, apprenticeships, certification fees, technology-enhanced education, and mental-health/wellness supports, with priorities for youth recruitment, veteran-trained medics, and small or rural agencies; the bill also mandates at least 20% of recruitment grants go to rural agencies.