Jane Harman: “I want to thank my friend and subcommittee chair, Mr. Pallone, and his ace staff for working to bring this bipartisan…”

“I want to thank my friend and subcommittee chair, Mr. Pallone, and his ace staff for working to bring this bipartisan bill, the Emergency Medic Transition, or EMT Act, to the floor. The bill will help our brave men and women who serve as medics in Afghanistan and Iraq to transition into EMT jobs when they return. The act authorizes grants for States that have a shortage of EMTs to create a fast-track program for vets who received and completed military emergency medical training to become emergency responders. The funds authorized in this bill can be used to provide coursework and training, and reimbursement for the cost of coursework, and any certification fees. Obviously, the bill is a win-win for the country and our vets. Its passage will enhance the surge capacities of local medical facilities and provide jobs for our vets, especially during this critical economic downturn. It is worth noting that the unemployment rate last year for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans 18 to 24 years old was 21.1 percent.”