PARA–EMT Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Representative Perez, Marie Gluesenkamp [D-WA-3]
Introduced
Summary
Federal grants to rebuild the EMS workforce and help veterans certify as civilian EMTs. This bill would create a new federal pilot grant program to fund recruitment, training, certification, apprenticeships, and wellness supports for emergency medical technicians and paramedics. It would also fund state demonstration grants that cover transition costs for veterans with military EMT training and require a federal study of EMT and paramedic workforce shortages.
Show full summary
- Would give licensed EMS agencies grants for recruitment, retention, training to meet licensing requirements, apprenticeship programs, technology-enhanced education, and wellness supports. Rural agencies would receive not less than 20% of total grants and single grants would be capped at $1 million.
- Would award demonstration grants to States to cover training, education, certification, credentialing, and national testing and State licensure fees for veterans with military EMT or paramedic training. This veteran program is authorized at $20 million per year for 2026 through 2030.
- Would require the Department of Labor, with HHS, to study current EMT and paramedic job counts, project demand through 2034, estimate shortages, and report recommendations to Congress within a year.
*This bill would increase federal spending by authorizing about $70 million per year for fiscal years 2026–2030 for the two grant programs, with up to 10% of the pilot funds allowed for administration.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Grants to hire and train EMTs
If enacted, HHS would run a pilot grant program to help EMS agencies hire and train EMTs and paramedics. It would get $50 million each year from 2026–2030. No grant could exceed $1 million, and at least 20% of grants would go to rural agencies. Money could pay for recruiting and keeping paid or volunteer staff, licensing and certification training, apprenticeships, tech-enabled classes, wellness and mental-health programs, and training for mental and substance use care. The Secretary would prioritize youth recruitment, veteran transition programs, and small or rural EMS agencies, and grantees would report results to HHS and Congress.
Help for veterans to become EMTs
If enacted, HHS would give States grants to help veterans move from military EMT or paramedic roles to civilian jobs. The program would receive $20 million each year from 2026–2030. States would have to set up a plan and a State-run program to cover training and education, national testing fees, credentialing, and State licensure fees. Help would be for veterans who completed military EMT or paramedic training. HHS would send Congress a yearly report on results.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Perez, Marie Gluesenkamp [D-WA-3]
WA • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Finstad, Brad [R-MN-1]
MN • R
Sponsored 3/18/2025
Feenstra
IA • R
Sponsored 3/18/2025
Bonamici
OR • D
Sponsored 3/18/2025
Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]
NY • R
Sponsored 3/18/2025
Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-9]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/18/2025
Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6]
OR • D
Sponsored 3/26/2025
Davis (NC)
NC • D
Sponsored 4/10/2025
Stansbury
NM • D
Sponsored 5/5/2025
Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]
PA • R
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Rep. Bynum, Janelle S. [D-OR-5]
OR • D
Sponsored 6/3/2025
Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]
NJ • D
Sponsored 6/17/2025
Rep. Strickland, Marilyn [D-WA-10]
WA • D
Sponsored 9/10/2025
Jackson (IL)
IL • D
Sponsored 9/11/2025
Rep. Dexter, Maxine [D-OR-3]
OR • D
Sponsored 9/17/2025
Gonzalez, V.
TX • D
Sponsored 10/17/2025
Randall
WA • D
Sponsored 11/10/2025
Rep. Kim, Young [R-CA-40]
CA • R
Sponsored 11/10/2025
Rep. Golden, Jared F. [D-ME-2]
ME • D
Sponsored 12/1/2025
Rep. Dean, Madeleine [D-PA-4]
PA • D
Sponsored 2/23/2026
Rep. Morelle, Joseph D. [D-NY-25]
NY • D
Sponsored 2/24/2026
Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17]
PA • D
Sponsored 3/27/2026
Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3]
NY • D
Sponsored 4/9/2026
Rep. Walkinshaw, James R. [D-VA-11]
VA • D
Sponsored 4/27/2026
Rep. Kiggans, Jennifer A. [R-VA-2]
VA • R
Sponsored 5/11/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov