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)]
###