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Congress Passes Omnibus Appropriations Bill with EMS Language
By Mark Harrison
KAPA President
Washington, D.C.
—
KAPA is extremely happy to report that language has been secured
in the FY08 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill, which will help
ensure that ambulance service providers are included in State
Homeland Security Plans and receive additional funding.
Congress passed the legislation last week as part of the Omnibus
Appropriations Bill (H.R. 2764) and the President has indicated
that he will sign the bill. This represents an enormous win for
the AAA, numerous EMS associations and many the many ambulance
providers who took the time to make calls and write letters to
their members of Congress.
Below is the
report language on EMS.
FEMA
is directed, in conjunction with the Office of Health Affairs, to
report to the Committee regarding the current state of disaster
preparedness capabilities of emergency medical services and the
capabilities required to meet future preparedness goals. This
report is due no later than five months after enactment of this
Act and shall include an analysis of the gap between current and
target capabilities. FEMA is directed to include in its grants
guidance, language requiring State and local governments to
include EMS providers in their Statewide Homeland Security Plans
as well as their UASI plans. If no State or local funding is
provided to EMS, the State should justify lack of funding through
demonstrating related targeted capabilities have been met or
identify other pressing priorities.
Please feel
free to use this language when speaking with your State and local
officials to demonstrate that you should be involved with and
included in their Statewide Homeland Security Plans an UASI
plans. Also use the language to demonstrate that Congress and
FEMA clearly are concerned about the lack of funding going to EMS
providers and that they will be asked about the amount of funding
the State is distributing to providers.
Although
this is not the first time specific language for EMS has been in a
Homeland Security Appropriations Bill, past bills have included
language only requiring the Department of Homeland Security to
develop a report on the amount of funding being distributed to
EMS. Those studies found that less than 4% is going to EMS. This
is the first time a bill has included EMS language directing
states to include EMS in their state homeland security plans. |
