NATIONAL EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES MEMORIAL EXTENSION ACT

NATIONAL EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES MEMORIAL EXTENSION ACT

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 50 (Thursday, March 19, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 50 (Thursday, March 19, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E244] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] NATIONAL EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES MEMORIAL EXTENSION ACT ______ speech of HON. RICHARD HUDSON of north carolina in the house of representatives Monday, March 16, 2026 Mr. HUDSON. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2196, to extend and authorize the commemorative work to complete the National Emergency Medical Services Memorial, and urge the House to pass this bill. The authorization for work on the memorial expired in November of 2025, and at no cost to the taxpayer, this bill simply allows the Foundation to continue their donations and work on the memorial in Washington. Each year across our Nation, the 850,000 men and women of EMS answer more than 30 million calls to serve 22 million patients at a moment's notice. EMS is one of the first lines of defense in the prevention and mitigation of risk from all sorts of accidents, attacks, or natural disasters. In my home state of North Carolina, our EMS serves a vital purpose when hurricanes hit, and most recently, Hurricane Helene devastated the western part of the state. EMS workers were risking their lives to aid their communities, keep people alive, transport friends and neighbors to safer locations and secure facilities to be treated. In fact, statistics show EMS providers die in the line of duty at a rate more than twice the national average for many other careers and endure an injury rate of nearly 100 percent. Without the sacrifice of EMS workers, our communities would be much less safe. It is time to recognize the efforts of these unsung heroes and memorialize the ultimate sacrifice made by more than 600 members of the Nation's EMS and their loved ones. The original bill was passed in 2018, and I look forward to seeing the work continue so that we can have a memorial in D.C. where our EMS providers can be commemorated and honored. ____________________

Referenced legislation: HR2196