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Congress Passes FY 2008 Omnibus Appropriations Bill

EMSResponder.com News

EMS officials were pleased with the passage this week of the FY '08

Homeland Security Appropriations bill which includes funding for

EMS-related issues, and is expected to be signed by the President next

week.

The Senate committee had failed in its attempt to make the

appropriations bill veto-proof, and President Bush had threatened to

veto any legislation that was above his projected budget. However,

Congress worked out a final compromise package and the bill's passage

was announced this Wednesday.

Meyer, vice president of Cornerstone Government Affairs, said

EMS-related issues always undergo tough scrutiny. The lobbyist for EMS

groups wrote Wednesday, " The first bit of good news is that the National

Emergency Medical Services Information System (NEMSIS) received

$750,000. As you will recall the House did not have any money in the

Transportation Appropriations bill for it. The Senate had $1 million for

the program in its version of the bill. We ended up above the halfway

mark which is a huge success. "

Meyer said Traumatic Brain injury received $10 million. Additional

funding information for other programs will be available soon.

In addition, the following report language was included in the Homeland

Security Appropriations bill:

" FEMA is directed, in conjunction with the Office of Health Affairs, to

report to the Committee regarding the current state of disaster

preparedness capabilities of emergency medical services and the

capabilities required to meet future preparedness goals. This report is

due no later than five months after the enactment of this Act and shall

include an analysis of the gap between current and target capabilities.

FEMA is directed to include in its grants guidance, language requiring

State and local governments to include EMS providers in their Statewide

Homeland Security Plans as well as their UASI plans. If no State or

local funding is provided to EMS, the State should justify lack of

funding through demonstrating related targeted capabilities have been

met or identify other pressing priorities. "

Another item of interest for public EMS agencies is that money for the

Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) program will be available again

next year. AFG program funding is $560 million, of which a portion will

be allocated for EMS funding to eligible agencies.

EMS officials are planning to take a more pro-active approach to issues

on the Hill next year.

An EMS caucus similar to the fire service caucus is in the works, and

legislators have expressed interest in joining the cause, Meyer said.

The National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT) also

will be more involved next year, Executive Director Pam Cohen said.

" We think it's very important to be on top of the issues, " she said.

" It's vital that we know the players and keep abreast of things that may

affect EMS. " Additional information will be coming soon at

www.EMSResponder.com/funding.

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