I 
115TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5429 
To reauthorize the rural emergency medical services training and equipment 
assistance program under section 330J of the Public Health Service Act. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 5, 2018 
Mr. GIANFORTE (for himself, Mr. LOEBSACK, and Mr. DUFFY) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
A BILL 
To reauthorize the rural emergency medical services training 
and equipment assistance program under section 330J 
of the Public Health Service Act. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Supporting and Im-
proving Rural EMS Needs Act of 2018’’ or the ‘‘SIREN 
Act of 2018’’. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:51 Apr 05, 2018
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5429.IH
H5429
khammond on DSK30JT082PROD with BILLS
SEC. 2. REAUTHORIZATION OF RURAL EMERGENCY MED-
ICAL SERVICES TRAINING AND EQUIPMENT 
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. 
Section 330J of the Public Health Service Act (42 
U.S.C. 254c–15) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘in rural 
areas’’ and inserting ‘‘in rural areas or to residents 
of rural areas’’; and 
(2) by striking subsections (b) through (g) and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘(b) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible to receive grant 
under this section, an entity shall be— 
‘‘(1) an emergency medical services agency op-
erated by a local or tribal government (including 
fire-based and non-fire based); or 
‘‘(2) an emergency medical services agency that 
is described in section 501(c) of the Internal Rev-
enue Code of 1986 and exempt from tax under sec-
tion 501(a) of such Code. 
‘‘(c) USE OF FUNDS.—An entity shall use amounts 
received through a grant under subsection (a) to— 
‘‘(1) recruit emergency medical services per-
sonnel; 
‘‘(2) train emergency medical services personnel 
as appropriate to maintain licenses and certifications 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:51 Apr 05, 2018
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5429.IH
H5429
khammond on DSK30JT082PROD with BILLS
relevant to service in an emergency medical services 
agency described in subsection (b); 
‘‘(3) conduct courses that qualify graduates to 
serve in an emergency medical services agency de-
scribed in subsection (b) in accordance with State 
and local requirements; 
‘‘(4) fund specific training to meet Federal or 
State licensing or certification requirements; 
‘‘(5) develop new ways to educate emergency 
health care providers through the use of technology- 
enhanced educational methods; 
‘‘(6) acquire emergency medical services equip-
ment; and 
‘‘(7) acquire personal protective equipment for 
emergency medical services personnel as required by 
the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. 
‘‘(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) The term ‘emergency medical services’— 
‘‘(A) means resources used by a public or 
private nonprofit licensed entity to deliver med-
ical care outside of a medical facility under 
emergency conditions that occur as a result of 
the condition of the patient; and 
‘‘(B) includes services delivered (either on 
a compensated or volunteer basis) by an emer-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:51 Apr 05, 2018
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5429.IH
H5429
khammond on DSK30JT082PROD with BILLS
gency medical services provider or other pro-
vider that is licensed or certified by the State 
involved as an emergency medical technician, a 
paramedic, or an equivalent professional (as de-
termined by the State). 
‘‘(2) The term ‘rural area’ means— 
‘‘(A) a nonmetropolitan statistical area; 
‘‘(B) an area designated as a rural area by 
any law or regulation of a State; or 
‘‘(C) a rural census tract of a metropolitan 
statistical area (as determined under the most 
recent Goldsmith Modification, originally pub-
lished in a notice of availability of funds in the 
Federal Register on February 27, 1992, 57 
Fed. Reg. 6725). 
‘‘(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 
for each fiscal years 2018 through 2022. 
‘‘(2) ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.—The Secretary 
may use not more than 10 percent of the amount 
appropriated pursuant to paragraph (1) for a fiscal 
year for the administrative expenses of carrying out 
this section.’’. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:51 Apr 05, 2018
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H5429.IH
H5429
khammond on DSK30JT082PROD with BILLS