WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) released the following statement in honor of National Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week. They recently introduced the National Emergency Medical Services Commemorative Work Act to authorize the creation of a national memorial honoring the commitment and service of EMS professionals.

Each year, across the nation, the 850,000 EMS first responders answer more than 30,000,000 calls to serve 22,000,000 patients in need of immediate, life-saving care. Many of these citizens around the country are alive today because of this selfless commitment. With little regard for their own safety and in the face of all hazards, the men and women of EMS respond across the spectrum of incidents, from a single person’s medical emergency to naturally occurring or man-made disasters. 

“Ensuring that our EMS personnel are well trained is not only about delivery of high quality government services, but a matter of life and death,” said Senator Coons. “The commitment to others shown by EMS professionals around the country deserves a memorial that will remind all Americans of the work these men and women do every day. Congress has often recognized the heroic work of our military, police, and firefighting professionals, but the men and women of EMS have also stepped up to assist their communities. Their commitment and service deserves similar recognition, which the National Emergency Medical Services Memorial would provide.”

“EMS professionals are on the front lines every day keeping our communities safe and providing critical care and emergency services to those in need,” said Senator Ayotte. “Their work is too often unrecognized, and I’m honored to thank them, honor their service, and commemorate the sacrifice of those who were lost in the line of duty with this long-overdue memorial.” 

“Emergency medical services personnel are on the front lines of public safety and public health in our Nation,” said Chief Larry Tan, Former President of the International Association of EMS Chiefs (IAEMSC) and EMS Chief for New Castle County, Delaware. “It is fitting that we take time to remember and honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice while responding to the medical needs of their communities.”  

"Every day, Americans continue to rely on the enduring ideals of commitment, service and sacrifice embraced by the nation’s emergency medical service providers.  These same providers should be able to rely on us as a nation to remember this ongoing commitment and service to our country, and more importantly, the ultimate sacrifice already made by more than 650 members of the nation’s EMS personnel.  It is time to remember,” said Katie Orsino, Executive Director of the National EMS Memorial Foundation. “We are very fortunate to have the leadership of Senator Coons and Senator Ayotte associated with this project; the entire EMS community appreciates the introduction of this bill in the US Senate."

 

Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) is also a cosponsor of S. 2628. This bill is a companion bill to H.R. 2274, a Bill to Establish a National EMS Memorial.