Cassidy Initiative to Help Veterans Gain EMT Licenses is Moving Through Congress

In 2006, Democrats in the House led on pushing for veterans to receive various certificates for the work they'd done.  First responders was the most often field noted that a certificate would be helpful in terms of allowing them to get civilians jobs.  After 2009, it was largely just US House Reps John Hall and Stephanie Herseth Sandlin raising the issue -- both left Congress in January 2011.  This week, Republican US Senator Bill Cassidy raised the issue in the Senate.  His office notes:



For Immediate Release
Contact: John Cummins, Jillian Rogers
July 8, 2016
202-224-5824


Cassidy Initiative to Help Veterans Gain EMT Licenses is Moving Through Congress

Included in Cara Conference Report

WASHINGTON – US Senator Bill Cassidy, MD (R-LA) applauded the inclusion of his plan to make it easier for veterans with military emergency medical technician (EMT) training to pursue careers as EMTs following their military service in the Comprehensive Addiction & Recovery Act (CARA) Conference Report. The CARA Conference Report passed the US House of Representatives today and will be voted on by the US Senate next week. Following the Senate’s vote it will be sent to the president’s desk to be signed into law.

Introduced in February, 2015, the Veteran Emergency Medical Technician Support Act will help states streamline their certification requirements for veterans with military emergency medical technician (EMT) training who are looking to pursue a career as an EMT following their military service. It will provide demonstration grants to states that work to simplify the EMT certification process for veterans and will allow veterans to avoid duplicating their medical training.

Dr. Cassidy released the following statement:

“Veterans trained as emergency medical technicians in the service should not have to repeat the training that they've already had. It is better for them and for their community if their expertise is used as quickly as possible. This is about jobs, easing transition to civilian life and providing emergency services to fellow Americans.”

A companion bill was introduced in the US House of Representatives by Representatives Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) and Louis Capps (D-CA).

Dr. Cassidy is a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee and the Veterans’ Affairs Committee.






[Dr. Cassidy and Representative Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) with veteran EMTs from the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT)]


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