Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
The PARA-EMT Act addresses a critical shortage of emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics across the United States by establishing two federal grant programs and requiring a workforce study. The bill creates a $50 million annual pilot program (2026-2030) through the Department of Health and Human Services to provide grants to EMS agencies for recruiting, training, and retaining EMTs and paramedics, with priority given to programs serving rural areas, youth, and disadvantaged populations. It also establishes a separate $20 million annual program (2026-2030) to help states assist military veterans with medical training in transitioning to civilian EMS careers by covering certification and licensing costs. Additionally, the bill requires the Secretaries of Labor and Health and Human Services to study the EMT and paramedic workforce shortage and submit recommendations to Congress within one year, including whether to expand federal hiring preferences for these occupations. The legislation aims to address a shortage projected to exceed 42,000 workers by 2030, a problem worsened by high turnover rates and the COVID-19 pandemic's disruption of training programs.
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