I 
109TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1240 
To establish a Federal Interagency Committee on Emergency Medical 
Services, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 10, 2005 
Mr. HEFLEY (for himself and Mr. ALLEN) introduced the following bill; which 
was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
A BILL 
To establish a Federal Interagency Committee on Emergency 
Medical Services, and for other purposes. 
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 ‘‘Emergency Medical 
Services Support Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FEDERAL INTERAGENCY COMMITTEE ON EMER-
GENCY MEDICAL SERVICES. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of Transpor-
tation and the Secretary of Homeland Security, acting 
through the Under Secretary for Emergency Preparedness
and Response of the Department of Homeland Security 
and in consultation with the Secretary of Health and 
Human Services, shall establish a Federal Interagency 
Committee on Emergency Medical Services (in this Act 
referred to as the ‘‘Interagency Committee on EMS’’) to 
improve coordination and enhance support of emergency 
medical services. 
(b) MEMBERSHIP.—The Interagency Committee on 
EMS shall consist of the following officials (or their des-
ignees): 
(1) The Administrator of the National Highway 
Traffic Safety Administration. 
(2) The Director of the Office for Domestic 
Preparedness of the Department of Homeland Secu-
rity. 
(3) The Administrator of the Health Resources 
and Services Administration of the Department of 
Health and Human Services. 
(4) The Director of the Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention of the Department of Health 
and Human Services. 
(5) The Administrator of the United States 
Fire Administration of the Department of Homeland 
Security.
(6) The Administrator of the Centers for Medi-
care Medicaid Services of the Department of Health 
and Human Services. 
(7) The Under Secretary of Defense for Per-
sonnel and Readiness. 
(8) The Assistant Secretary for Public Health 
Emergency Preparedness of the Department of 
Health and Human Services. 
(9) The Director of the Indian Health Service 
of the Department of Health and Human Services. 
(10) The Bureau Chief of the Wireless Tele-
communications Bureau of the Federal Communica-
tions Commission. 
(11) A representative of any other Federal 
agency identified by the Secretary of Transportation 
or the Secretary of Homeland Security, acting 
through the Under Secretary for Emergency Pre-
paredness and Response of the Department of 
Homeland Security and in consultation with the Sec-
retary of Health and Human Services, as having a 
significant role in relation to the purposes of the 
Interagency Committee on EMS. 
(c) LEADERSHIP.—The members of the Interagency 
Committee on EMS shall annually select an individual
from among the members of the Committee to serve as 
chairperson of the Committee. 
(d) ACTIVITIES.—The Interagency Committee on 
EMS shall carry out the following activities: 
(1) Ensuring coordination among the Federal 
agencies represented on the Committee with State, 
local, tribal, and regional emergency medical services 
and 9–1–1 systems. 
(2) Identifying State, local, tribal, and regional 
emergency medical services and 9–1–1 needs. 
(3) Ensuring that emergency medical services 
are appropriately integrated with homeland security 
and other emergency response programs. 
(4) Recommending new or expanded programs, 
including grant programs, for— 
(A) improving State, local, tribal, and re-
gional emergency medical services; and 
(B) implementing improved interoperable 
voice and data emergency medical services and 
communications technologies, including wireless 
9–1–1. 
(5) Identifying ways to streamline the process 
through which Federal agencies support State, local, 
tribal, and regional emergency medical services.
(6) Assisting State, local, tribal, and regional 
emergency medical services in setting priorities 
based on identified needs. 
(7) Advising, consulting, and making rec-
ommendations on matters relating to the implemen-
tation of the coordinated State emergency medical 
services programs. 
(e) MEETINGS.—The Interagency Committee on 
EMS shall meet as frequently as is determined necessary 
by the chairperson of the Committee, but no less fre-
quently than quarterly. 
(f) ADMINISTRATION.—The Administrator of the Na-
tional Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in coopera-
tion with the Director of the Office for Domestic Pre-
paredness of the Department of Homeland Security, shall 
provide administrative support to the Interagency Com-
mittee on EMS, including scheduling meetings, setting 
agendas, keeping minutes and records, and producing re-
ports. 
(g) ANNUAL REPORTS.—The Interagency Committee 
on EMS shall prepare and submit an annual report to 
Congress on the Committee’s activities, actions, and rec-
ommendations, and shall include in such report a descrip-
tion of respective Federal agency responsibility, support, 
and coordination of emergency medical services systems.
SEC. 3. FEDERAL INTERAGENCY COMMITTEE ON EMER-
GENCY MEDICAL SERVICES ADVISORY COUN-
CIL. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established a Fed-
eral Interagency Committee on Emergency Medical Serv-
ices Advisory Council (in this Act referred to as the ‘‘Advi-
sory Council’’) that shall consist of not more than 13 indi-
viduals with an interest or expertise in emergency medical 
services selected by the Interagency Committee on EMS. 
(b) MEMBERSHIP.—In selecting members of the Ad-
visory Council, the Interagency Committee on EMS shall 
ensure that the Advisory Council represents— 
(1) both urban and rural areas; and 
(2) all sectors of the emergency medical services 
community. 
(c) LEADERSHIP.—Members of the Advisory Council 
shall annually select an individual from among the mem-
bers of the Council to serve as chairperson of the Advisory 
Council. 
(d) ACTIVITIES.—The Advisory Council shall make 
recommendations to the Interagency Committee on EMS 
on topics including the following: 
(1) Improved coordination and support of emer-
gency medical services systems among Federal pro-
grams.
(2) Development of a national emergency med-
ical services plan. 
(3) Standards, guidelines, benchmarks, and 
data collection on emergency medical services. 
(4) Guidelines for conducting needs assessments 
for improving community-based emergency medical 
services systems at State and local levels. 
(5) Creation of new, or the expansion of exist-
ing, grants or other programs for improving commu-
nity-based emergency medical services. 
(6) Consolidation or realignment of Federal 
agency or program responsibility for emergency med-
ical services. 
(7) Strengthening emergency medical services 
systems through enhanced workforce development, 
education, training, exercises, equipment, medical 
oversight, and other areas. 
(8) Issues or topics to be addressed in the an-
nual report of the Interagency Committee on EMS. 
(e) ANNUAL REPORT.—Before the Interagency Com-
mittee on EMS submits to Congress the annual report re-
quired under section 2(g), the Advisory Council shall re-
view the report and include independent information or 
recommendations for inclusion in the report, as deemed 
appropriate by the Advisory Council.
(f) MEETINGS.—The Advisory Council— 
(1) shall meet at the same time and place as 
the Interagency Committee on EMS, when such 
Committee meets; and 
(2) may conduct independent meetings to re-
ceive public comment and collect data and informa-
tion. 
(g) COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT.— 
(1) COMPENSATION.—The members of the Ad-
visory Council shall receive no pay by reason of their 
service as a member of the Advisory Council. 
(2) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—The members of the 
Advisory Council shall be allowed travel expenses, in-
cluding per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates au-
thorized for employees of agencies under subchapter 
1 of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while 
away from their homes or regular places of business 
in the performance of services for the Advisory 
Council. 
(h) ADMINISTRATION.—The Administrator of the 
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in co-
operation with the Director of the Office for Domestic 
Preparedness of the Department of Homeland Security,
shall provide administration support to the Advisory 
Council. 
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