Sponsors (30)
Official title: To preserve access to emergency medical services.
Introduced March 18, 2025 by Marie Gluesenkamp Perez · Last progress March 18, 2025
The bill directs new federal funding, training, veteran-focused grants, and data-driven planning to shore up the EMS workforce—particularly in rural areas—but does so at new taxpayer cost, with administrative burdens and potential uneven or delayed relief for some providers and veterans.
Prospective EMTs and paramedics (including veterans and students) and EMS agencies will receive direct federal financial support—$50M/year program plus up to $20M/year in veteran-focused grants—to pay for recruitment, certification, apprenticeships, and training costs.
Rural and other underserved communities will likely get improved emergency care access because the bill prioritizes rural set-asides, targeted recruitment/training grants, and state sub-grant programs that place more EMTs/paramedics where shortages are greatest.
Increasing the number of certified EMTs/paramedics and easing veteran civilian certification will strengthen overall emergency response capacity and community preparedness, reducing gaps in coverage in understaffed areas.
The bill increases federal spending (at least $50M/year for the main program plus $20M/year for veterans and administration/implementation costs), so taxpayers bear new ongoing costs that could displace other priorities.
Grant recipients, states, and local agencies will face new administrative and reporting burdens (application, periodic evaluations, sub-grant management and state administration), potentially diverting staff time from service delivery.
Program design choices (rural set-aside, prioritized groups, grant caps) and variable state implementation risk uneven access—smaller non-rural agencies or veterans in some states may receive less help or face delays.
Based on analysis of 5 sections of legislative text.
Authorizes HHS grants to recruit/train EMTs and paramedics, funds state veteran credentialing demonstrations, and orders a Labor/HHS workforce study.
Creates federal grant programs and a workforce study to recruit, train, and retain emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics. It funds a competitive grant pilot for recruitment and training, a demonstration program to help veterans obtain civilian EMT/paramedic credentials, and a Labor Department study of workforce supply and demand. The bill authorizes $50 million per year for the EMS recruitment and training pilot (FY2026–2030), $20 million per year for the veterans transition demonstration (FY2026–2030), reporting requirements, rural set-asides, recipient reporting, and a one-year Labor- HHS study with recommendations for credentialing and hiring pathways.