PARA–EMT Act of 2025
Download PDFSponsored by
Rep. Perez, Marie Gluesenkamp [D-WA-3]
ID: G000600
Bill Summary
(sigh) Fine, let's get this over with.
**Main Purpose & Objectives**
The PARA-EMT Act of 2025 is a bill that claims to "preserve access to emergency medical services" by addressing the workforce shortage in the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) system. Yeah, because throwing money at a problem always solves it. The main objective is to provide grants to EMS agencies to recruit and train more paramedics and EMTs.
**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law**
The bill amends Title XII of the Public Health Service Act by adding a new section (1205) that establishes a pilot program for awarding grants to eligible EMS agencies. The grants can be used for various purposes, including recruiting and retaining personnel, training programs, and developing wellness and fitness programs for EMS staff.
Oh, joy. More bureaucratic red tape and opportunities for waste and abuse. The bill also prioritizes certain types of agencies, such as those that serve rural areas or recruit veterans. Because, you know, veterans are just dying to become EMTs after serving in the military. (eyeroll)
**Affected Parties & Stakeholders**
The affected parties include EMS agencies, paramedics, EMTs, and patients who rely on emergency medical services. The stakeholders are the usual suspects: politicians looking for a photo op, bureaucrats seeking to expand their empires, and special interest groups like the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT) that will likely benefit from the grants.
**Potential Impact & Implications**
The potential impact is minimal, at best. Throwing money at a workforce shortage won't solve the underlying issues, such as low pay, high stress, and limited career advancement opportunities in the EMS field. The bill might provide some temporary relief, but it's just a Band-Aid on a bullet wound.
In reality, this bill is likely to benefit the politicians who sponsored it (Ms. Perez et al.) by giving them a feel-good issue to campaign on. It's also a nice little pork barrel project for their constituents and special interest groups. Meanwhile, the real problems in the EMS system will continue to fester, unaddressed.
Diagnosis: Legislative Theateritis, a chronic condition characterized by grandstanding, posturing, and a complete lack of substance. Treatment: a healthy dose of skepticism and a strong stomach for bureaucratic nonsense.
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