Emergency Medical Services Support Act - Requires the Secretary of Transportation and the Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through the Under Secretary for Emergency Preparedness and Response, to establish a Federal Interagency Committee on Emergency Medical Services to improve coordination and enhance support of emergency medical services (EMS).
Establishes a Federal Interagency Committee on Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council to make recommendations on EMS topics to the Committee.
Requires the Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to provide administrative support to both the Committee and the Council.
[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1240 Introduced in House (IH)]
109th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1240
To establish a Federal Interagency Committee on Emergency Medical
Services, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 10, 2005
Mr. Hefley (for himself and Mr. Allen) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish a Federal Interagency Committee on Emergency Medical
Services, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Emergency Medical Services Support
Act''.
SEC. 2. FEDERAL INTERAGENCY COMMITTEE ON EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES.
(a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Transportation and the
Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through the Under Secretary for
Emergency Preparedness and Response of the Department of Homeland
Security and in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human
Services, shall establish a Federal Interagency Committee on Emergency
Medical Services (in this Act referred to as the ``Interagency
Committee on EMS'') to improve coordination and enhance support of
emergency medical services.
(b) Membership.--The Interagency Committee on EMS shall consist of
the following officials (or their designees):
(1) The Administrator of the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration.
(2) The Director of the Office for Domestic Preparedness of
the Department of Homeland Security.
(3) The Administrator of the Health Resources and Services
Administration of the Department of Health and Human Services.
(4) The Director of the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention of the Department of Health and Human Services.
(5) The Administrator of the United States Fire
Administration of the Department of Homeland Security.
(6) The Administrator of the Centers for Medicare Medicaid
Services of the Department of Health and Human Services.
(7) The Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and
Readiness.
(8) The Assistant Secretary for Public Health Emergency
Preparedness of the Department of Health and Human Services.
(9) The Director of the Indian Health Service of the
Department of Health and Human Services.
(10) The Bureau Chief of the Wireless Telecommunications
Bureau of the Federal Communications Commission.
(11) A representative of any other Federal agency
identified by the Secretary of Transportation or the Secretary
of Homeland Security, acting through the Under Secretary for
Emergency Preparedness and Response of the Department of
Homeland Security and in consultation with the Secretary of
Health and Human Services, as having a significant role in
relation to the purposes of the Interagency Committee on EMS.
(c) Leadership.--The members of the Interagency Committee on EMS
shall annually select an individual from among the members of the
Committee to serve as chairperson of the Committee.
(d) Activities.--The Interagency Committee on EMS shall carry out
the following activities:
(1) Ensuring coordination among the Federal agencies
represented on the Committee with State, local, tribal, and
regional emergency medical services and 9-1-1 systems.
(2) Identifying State, local, tribal, and regional
emergency medical services and 9-1-1 needs.
(3) Ensuring that emergency medical services are
appropriately integrated with homeland security and other
emergency response programs.
(4) Recommending new or expanded programs, including grant
programs, for--
(A) improving State, local, tribal, and regional
emergency medical services; and
(B) implementing improved interoperable voice and
data emergency medical services and communications
technologies, including wireless 9-1-1.
(5) Identifying ways to streamline the process through
which Federal agencies support State, local, tribal, and
regional emergency medical services.
(6) Assisting State, local, tribal, and regional emergency
medical services in setting priorities based on identified
needs.
(7) Advising, consulting, and making recommendations on
matters relating to the implementation of the coordinated State
emergency medical services programs.
(e) Meetings.--The Interagency Committee on EMS shall meet as
frequently as is determined necessary by the chairperson of the
Committee, but no less frequently than quarterly.
(f) Administration.--The Administrator of the National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration, in cooperation with the Director of the
Office for Domestic Preparedness of the Department of Homeland
Security, shall provide administrative support to the Interagency
Committee on EMS, including scheduling meetings, setting agendas,
keeping minutes and records, and producing reports.
(g) Annual Reports.--The Interagency Committee on EMS shall prepare
and submit an annual report to Congress on the Committee's activities,
actions, and recommendations, and shall include in such report a
description of respective Federal agency responsibility, support, and
coordination of emergency medical services systems.
SEC. 3. FEDERAL INTERAGENCY COMMITTEE ON EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES
ADVISORY COUNCIL.
(a) Establishment.--There is established a Federal Interagency
Committee on Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council (in this Act
referred to as the ``Advisory Council'') that shall consist of not more
than 13 individuals with an interest or expertise in emergency medical
services selected by the Interagency Committee on EMS.
(b) Membership.--In selecting members of the Advisory Council, the
Interagency Committee on EMS shall ensure that the Advisory Council
represents--
(1) both urban and rural areas; and
(2) all sectors of the emergency medical services
community.
(c) Leadership.--Members of the Advisory Council shall annually
select an individual from among the members of the Council to serve as
chairperson of the Advisory Council.
(d) Activities.--The Advisory Council shall make recommendations to
the Interagency Committee on EMS on topics including the following:
(1) Improved coordination and support of emergency medical
services systems among Federal programs.
(2) Development of a national emergency medical services
plan.
(3) Standards, guidelines, benchmarks, and data collection
on emergency medical services.
(4) Guidelines for conducting needs assessments for
improving community-based emergency medical services systems at
State and local levels.
(5) Creation of new, or the expansion of existing, grants
or other programs for improving community-based emergency
medical services.
(6) Consolidation or realignment of Federal agency or
program responsibility for emergency medical services.
(7) Strengthening emergency medical services systems
through enhanced workforce development, education, training,
exercises, equipment, medical oversight, and other areas.
(8) Issues or topics to be addressed in the annual report
of the Interagency Committee on EMS.
(e) Annual Report.--Before the Interagency Committee on EMS submits
to Congress the annual report required under section 2(g), the Advisory
Council shall review the report and include independent information or
recommendations for inclusion in the report, as deemed appropriate by
the Advisory Council.
(f) Meetings.--The Advisory Council--
(1) shall meet at the same time and place as the
Interagency Committee on EMS, when such Committee meets; and
(2) may conduct independent meetings to receive public
comment and collect data and information.
(g) Compensation and Reimbursement.--
(1) Compensation.--The members of the Advisory Council
shall receive no pay by reason of their service as a member of
the Advisory Council.
(2) Travel expenses.--The members of the Advisory Council
shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of
subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of agencies
under subchapter 1 of chapter 57 of title 5, United States
Code, while away from their homes or regular places of business
in the performance of services for the Advisory Council.
(h) Administration.--The Administrator of the National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration, in cooperation with the Director of the
Office for Domestic Preparedness of the Department of Homeland
Security, shall provide administration support to the Advisory Council.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
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