Duckworth, Durbin Announce Nearly $1 Million in Federal Funding for Rural Illinois EMS Services

Duckworth, Durbin Announce Nearly $1 Million in Federal Funding for Rural Illinois EMS Services

[SPRINGFIELD, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $962,877 in federal funding through Durbin's Supporting and Improving Rural EMS Needs (SIREN) Act to support emergency medical services (EMS) agencies in rural communities. The funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), which was created through Durbin's SIREN Act, goes toward supporting rural fire and EMS agencies in training and recruiting staff, conducting certification courses and purchasing equipment. Today's announcement marks the largest dollar amount and number of grants going to rural EMS agencies in Illinois to date.

"Investments in emergency medical services help rural communities protect and serve families throughout Illinois," Duckworth said. "Every Illinoisan, no matter their zip code, deserves access to high-quality health care. I will keep working with Senator Durbin to make sure our rural emergency medical services have the federal support they need to continue caring for folks in every corner of our state."

"Our EMS agencies ensure that, regardless of geography or circumstances, every American has a fighting chance at survival and recovery in times of a health crisis," said Durbin. "We owe it to these dedicated first responders provide unwavering support, and to ensure that when seconds count, they have everything they need to be the lifeline of rural America."

Recipients of the SIREN Act awards include:

• Southern Illinois Hospital Services - $200,000
• Amboy Ambulance & Fire Protection District - $169,648
• Jersey Community Hospital District - $200,000
• Wabash General Hospital District - $193,229
• Horizon Health Foundation of East Central Illinois, Inc. - $200,000

A decline in primary care and hospital service availability, workforce shortages exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, great distances between health care facilities and low insurance reimbursement for transport and emergency treatment have all strained rural EMS agencies. These agencies are tasked with ever-greater responsibilities, such as preparing for natural and manmade disasters and bioterror threats, supporting the chronic and emergency care needs of an aging population, and responding on the front lines of the opioid epidemic. First responders are often the only health care providers in their area and face difficulty in personnel recruitment and retention and securing necessary equipment.

Durbin's bipartisan SIREN Act was initially signed into law in 2018 as part of the Farm Bill. Since then, Durbin and U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) have led the appropriations effort to grow the program from $5 million annually to $11.5 million in 2024. With today's awards, rural fire and EMS agencies in Illinois have received nearly $3 million in federal SIREN Act funding.

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