Fw: Letter

[Guest guest]

Letter

Ron Hausseker Sr.

EMS Consultant and Paramedic

3002 Possum Trot

Brenham, Texas 77833

Dear Mr. Haussecker;

When I burned my hand and suffered heat prostration trying to pull my

Marine Corps radioman away from a badly burning truck that had just exploded an

anti-tank mine during my second tour in Vietnam, it was the Navy's version of a

paramedic that treated me and loaded me on a medivac helicopter. I called him

Corpsman! That same capability now exists for the general American public and

we call them paramedics and EMS technicians.

These were the first responders that were at the World Trade Center on

9/11; alongside the police and firemen and caring for victims, until they became

victims, themselves. The NYPD and FDNY have received a lot of well-deserved

attention that does not seem to have gone the way of the paramedics and EMS

technicians, though they deserve it, as well. Even though the general public

confuses the EMS Paramedics and EMT technicians with the paramedics that perform

the dual role of both, I don't. I know the difference.

I am convinced that, apart from having competent leaders, the major problem with

FEMA is that it is organized so that State and local services are to be the

first responders, no matter what the scale of the disaster. This works fine for

things such as a tornado or flash flood, but is wholly inadequate for a regional

disaster such as a hurricane. For things such as this, the Federal Government

must step in as first responder and co-ordinate preservation of local emergency

assets, mobilization of regional emergency assets, and support from the US

military and National Guard. It is wrong to hold these things back waiting for

a request in triplicate from local authorities. We also need to get Homeland

Security funding for our EMS/Paramedic community.

If elected, I will look out for the EMS/Paramedic Community as an

" Essential Service " , because no one else in Congress seems to be doing it. I

owe a debt. For instance, the recovery of VHS frequencies so that first

responders can all communicate on the same radios has been delayed by Congress

for two years, again. These delays keep happening because TV broadcast

interests have more influence in Congress than our emergency services. We must

change this. I will also be glad to look into Medicare/Medicaid reimbursements

now that I understand that they are a problem.

I am pleased to say that the newest EMS/Fire Station in my District,

Cypress Creek Station 21 got a commemorative brick from my family in it's

walkway to show our visible support to this vital community service. We did

this some two years, ago.

Sincerely yours,

Ted Ankrum

Democratic Candidate for US Congress,

Texas District 10, from the Houston suburbs to Austin suburbs

March 10, 2006