IV 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. RES. 1185 
Designating the month of May as ‘‘National First Responder Month’’. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 30, 2024 
Mr. NEWHOUSE (for himself, Mr. BOST, Mr. D’ESPOSITO, Mr. BILIRAKIS, Ms. 
HOULAHAN, and Mr. SMITH of Nebraska) submitted the following resolu-
tion; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infra-
structure 
RESOLUTION 
Designating the month of May as ‘‘National First Responder 
Month’’. 
Whereas first responders are police officers, peace officers, 
deputy sheriffs, correctional officers, local, State, Fed-
eral, and Tribal law enforcement officers, firefighters, 
emergency dispatchers, public safety telecommunicators, 
emergency medical technicians, paramedics, and nurses, 
who, in the course of their professional duties, respond to 
fire, medical, hazardous material, or other similar emer-
gencies; 
Whereas ‘‘International Firefighters Day’’, ‘‘National Peace 
Officers Memorial Day’’, ‘‘National Nurses Week’’, ‘‘Na-
tional Police Week’’, ‘‘National EMS Week’’, and ‘‘Na-
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tional Correctional Officers Week’’ are annually cele-
brated in May; 
Whereas, according to the Department of Commerce, in the 
United States there are approximately 4,600,000 first re-
sponders; 
Whereas, during times of medical crisis, first responders are 
critical in providing emergency medical services to dis-
advantaged communities such as older adults, people with 
disabilities, limited access to transportation, and those 
with minimal English-language proficiency; 
Whereas first responders have worked on the frontlines of na-
tional emergencies and crises for centuries including the 
September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Hurricane 
Katrina, the opioid epidemic, and the COVID–19 pan-
demic; 
Whereas, according to the Department of Transportation, 
emergency medical service personnel respond to around 
37,000,000 9–1–1 calls annually; 
Whereas, according to the Indian Health Service, about 
60,000 emergency medical service trips are made every 
year on reservations, particularly in rural and extremely 
remote locations, for Tribal members; 
Whereas first responders in rural communities often require 
additional specialized training given emergency response 
is sometimes a secondary occupation; 
Whereas, according to the Federal Emergency Management 
Agency, factors such as training demands, unmet expec-
tations, work-life balance, consolidations, mergers, and 
regionalization, tension with local government, leadership, 
and departmental culture have contributed to serious re-
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cruitment and retention challenges in the first responder 
industry; 
Whereas, according to the Department of Labor, 25 percent 
of police officers, 19 percent of firefighters, and 10 per-
cent of emergency medical technicians are veterans of the 
United States Armed Forces; 
Whereas, according to the Department of Health and Human 
Services, an estimated 30 percent of first responders will 
develop some behavioral health condition in their lifetime 
compared to 20 percent of the general population; 
Whereas, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental 
Health Services Administration, approximately 1 in 3 
first responders will develop post-traumatic stress dis-
order in their lifetime; 
Whereas, according to the United States Fire Administration, 
first responders suffer from significantly higher suicide 
rates compared to other occupations; 
Whereas, according to the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention, first responder suicides are predominantly 
committed by law enforcement officers, firefighters, and 
emergency medical service providers; and 
Whereas many first responder peer support programs exist to 
assist in reducing the stigma associated with mental 
health struggles and enhance comfortability in approach-
ing fellow colleagues for assistance: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) expresses support for the designation of 
‘‘National First Responder Month’’; 
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(2) honors and recognizes the service and sac-
rifice made by first responders and the families of 
first responders; and 
(3) encourages the people of the United States 
to observe ‘‘National First Responder Month’’ by— 
(A) celebrating the lives of those first re-
sponders who have been injured or lost their 
lives in the line of duty; 
(B) thanking first responders, both part- 
time, full-time, and volunteer, for their contin-
ued commitment to their community and the 
Nation; and 
(C) conducting well-deserved ceremonies 
and activities to pay tribute to first responders 
and their families. 
Æ 
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