The Veteran Emergency Medical Technicians Support Act of 2015 (S. 453/H.R. 1818) will help veteran military medics transition effectively and efficiently into vacant civilian EMT and Paramedic positions upon completion of military service, and reduce unemployment among veterans.
The EMS industry has a shortage of field EMS practitioners. According to a recent Bureau of Labor Statistic’s Occupational Outlook, there will be 55,000 new civilian EMT and Paramedic jobs created between 2012 and 2022. The projected job growth rate is 23 percent — more rapid than the average for all occupations.
Tens of thousands of military medics are departing from active duty and available to enter the civilian workforce, but are instead required to duplicate their military medic training to obtain a state licensure to practice. This important legislation makes it easier and faster for veterans who served as military medics to earn certification as civilian EMTs and Paramedics, and serves to fill an essential public function vacancy in communities across our nation.
Congressional support for emergency medical and trauma care at the federal level is needed now more than ever. A robust Congressional EMS Caucus will bring a more disciplined focus on legislative issues and form a more collective and cohesive bipartisan message on EMS issues to support EMS providers nationwide. The U.S. House of Representatives Congressional EMS Caucus will help promote, educate, and increase awareness among decision-makers on the federal policy issues affecting EMS providers.
Ask your Representative to join the EMS Caucus today!