Mark Kennedy: “when I entered Congress, I was made aware of the need for better emergency medical services in rural areas. And when I…”

“when I entered Congress, I was made aware of the need for better emergency medical services in rural areas. And when I sponsored my EMS legislation, I was responding to concerns that we would lose important emergency medical services in rural Minnesota and that providers would not have the resources they needed to make sure that when we dialed 911 we could be assured that help would be on the way. For this reason, I am happy to support Senate 1533 today, the Health Care Safety Net Amendments of 2002. Among other things included in this bill, it authorizes grants to provide improved emergency medical services in rural areas. This grant was first introduced to this House as part of my bill, H.R. 1353, Sustaining Access To Vital Emergency Medical Services Act of 2001. And I am happy to say that my legislation today now has over 80 cosponsors from the House from both sides of the aisle. I am excited that a portion of my legislation is becoming law because it fills a need. And along with the original reason for the provision for rural America, it has taken on a new importance after September 11 with the need to make sure that we can respond to emergency crises. I urge my colleagues to support this bill. I thank those that have done such great work in putting it forward.”