National Emergency Medical Services Memorial Extension Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. WITTMAN. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2196) to provide for an extension of the legislative authority of the National Emergency Medical Services Memorial Foundation to establish a commemorative work in the District of Columbia and its environs, as amended.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 2196

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``National Emergency Medical Services Memorial Extension Act''. SEC. 2. EXTENSION OF LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY FOR MEMORIAL ESTABLISHMENT.

Section 1(b) of Public Law 115-275 is amended by striking the period at the end and inserting ``, except that any reference in section 8903(e) of that chapter to the expiration at the end of or extension beyond a seven-year period shall be considered to be a reference to an expiration on or extension beyond the date that is 7 years after the date of enactment of the National Emergency Medical Services Memorial Extension Act.''.

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Mr. WITTMAN. 2196, the bill now under consideration.

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Mr. WITTMAN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2196, the National Emergency Medical Services Memorial Extension Act, which is sponsored by Representative Hudson.

Emergency medical service providers are often the first people on the scene in a moment of crisis. They respond to accidents, natural disasters, public health emergencies, and everyday calls for help. More than 1 million Americans serve as EMS providers across the country under one shared mission: to save lives and protect the public.

Despite that service, there is still no permanent memorial in our Nation's Capital dedicated to EMS professionals who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

In 2018, Congress authorized the National Emergency Medical Services Memorial Foundation to establish such a memorial. Since then, the foundation has moved through the Federal approval process and is now working on site selection and environmental review. Like many memorial projects, progress has been steady but slow due to design approvals and the need to raise private funds.

Unfortunately, the authorization for this important memorial expired last year, and the foundation needs this authorization extended to finally complete its mission.

Representative Hudson's bill provides a straightforward solution. His legislation extends the foundation's legislative authority for an additional 7 years, allowing their work to continue so that this memorial can finally be completed.

Importantly, this memorial will remain funded entirely through private contributions, with no cost to the taxpayers. This legislation also does not expand the project or change its purpose. It simply ensures that the effort to honor fallen EMS providers can be finished.

Madam Speaker, I thank Representative Hudson for his leadership on this bill. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2196, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. WITTMAN. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time.

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Mr. WITTMAN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, the National Emergency Medical Services Memorial Extension Act provides the time needed to complete a project that honors the service and sacrifice of EMS providers without imposing a cost on taxpayers.

Representative Hudson's legislation keeps the memorial on track and ensures that EMS professionals are recognized alongside other public safety heroes in our Nation's Capital.

Once again, I thank Representative Hudson for his leadership on this effort and for his dedication to those who serve this Nation humbly and selflessly.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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