Supporting Our First Responders

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the EMS Counts Act, a bipartisan, commonsense solution to a critical and longstanding oversight in how we value our first responders.

Prior to serving in Congress, I spent decades as a volunteer firefighter and EMT. I recognize and value the commitment these individuals have to their communities.

Currently, the Bureau of Labor Statistics fails to count firefighter EMTs and firefighter paramedics as part of the EMS workforce, which skews the data, masks staffing shortages, complicates funding decisions, and hinders emergency preparedness.

Correcting outdated classifications is important because without an accurate count of the number of EMTs, paramedics, and other emergency service providers, it creates a challenge to adequately meet the health and safety needs of our communities.

Accurate workforce data is not just numbers. It is the foundation for equitable funding, targeted training, disaster responsiveness, and enhanced workplace safety. It empowers us to stand behind the men and women who respond to more than 22 million emergencies each year.

Mr. Speaker, passing the EMS Counts Act is a decisive step toward recognizing and strengthening this indispensable part of our public safety infrastructure. I urge my colleagues to join me in support.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source