Steve Lynch: “I want to thank the gentleman from California for his words of support and also thank the gentleman from Arizona for the…”

“I want to thank the gentleman from California for his words of support and also thank the gentleman from Arizona for the courtesy of yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express strong support for my bill, H.R. 1037, the National Emergency Medical Services Commemorative Work Act. This bipartisan legislation will create a National Emergency Medical Services Memorial Foundation to establish a commemorative memorial located here on Federal land in Washington, D.C., that will highlight and honor the commitment and sacrifice of emergency medical personnel across the United States. As the chairman noted, each year, there are 850,000 first responders of the emergency medical services who answer over 30 million calls while serving 22 million Americans who are in need of lifesaving care. Americans rely on the courage and selfless sacrifice of the men and women of the emergency medical services, and we all deeply appreciate their commitment to maintaining safety and medical security in our country. {time} 1800 Mr. Speaker, this memorial will serve as a symbol of their sacrifice during the darkest moments in our Nation's history. For example, this September will mark the 17th anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City. On that day, within minutes of the attack, more than 100 EMS units and dozens of private ambulances raced to the site, setting up triage centers to treat the wounded.…”