Durbin Calls On House To Pass Siren Reauthorization Act To Support Rural EMS Agencies

09.16.24

Durbin Calls On House To Pass Siren Reauthorization Act To Support Rural EMS Agencies

As the House is slated to consider his bipartisan legislation this week, Durbin emphasizes the importance of reauthorizing SIREN Act grants

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today delivered a speech on the Senate floor calling on the House of Representatives to pass his bipartisan legislation with U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), the SIREN Reauthorization Act, which is scheduled for a vote this week, after having already passed the Senate last December. During his remarks, Durbin emphasized the importance of SIREN Act grants, explaining that these fire and EMS agencies are often the only nearby medical care available for rural communities.

"Across rural America, nearly five million American live in an 'ambulance desert' - where access to critical emergency care is limited. And in eight states, there were fewer than three ambulances for every 1,000 square miles of land. Think about it - if you, or a loved one, experience cardiac arrest or an overdose, where seconds truly matter, you may not be able to receive timely care," Durbin began his speech.

"Across rural Illinois, EMS personnel are often the only health care providers around, with many being volunteer organizations. To keep our rural communities thriving, we must ensure our first responders are ready for the call," Durbin said. "So in 2018, six years ago, I worked with then-Senator Pat Roberts, Republican of Kansas, to pass into law a bill called the SIREN Act."

The SIREN Act created grants, funded through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), to support rural EMS agencies in training and recruiting staff, conducting certification courses, and purchasing equipment.

"I was inspired by a visit from Mark Kennedy, a paramedic from Nauvoo, Illinois, in Hancock County, who told me some of the challenges they were facing. The SIREN Act provides federal funding to rural fire and EMS agencies for recruiting, certification, and purchasing equipment - everything from Naloxone to power stretchers," Durbin continued.

This week, the House is expected to vote on the Senate-passed legislation. If passed and signed into law by President Biden, the legislation will extend funding for SIREN Act grants for another five years.

"This week, the House is scheduled to take it [the SIREN Reauthorization Act] up… I urge the House to quickly pass out the SIREN Reauthorization Act this week," Durbin concluded his remarks.

The SIREN Act was initially signed into law in 2018 as part of the Farm Bill. Since then, Durbin and Collins have led the appropriations effort to grow the program from $5 million annually to $11.5 million this year, resulting in a total of $40 million in grants nationwide to 42 states. The SIREN Act has resulted in new funds to rural EMS/fire agencies in Carbondale, Nauvoo, Amboy, Jerseyville, Mt. Carmel, Paris, and Gibson City, Illinois. Thanks to SIREN Act funding, the Nauvoo Fire Protection District has been able to increase the number of annual calls it responds to across Hancock County, Illinois, from 140 to 360.

A decline in primary care and hospital service availability, workforce shortages exacerbated by the pandemic, great distances between health care facilities, and low insurance reimbursement fortransport and emergency treatment have all strained rural EMS agencies. At the same time, EMS agencies today are tasked with ever-greater responsibilities- 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. These first responders are often the only health care providers in their area and face difficulty in personnel recruitment and retention, and securing expensive equipment.

The companion legislation in the House of Representatives is led by Representatives Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06) and Dave Joyce (R-OH-14). The SIREN Reauthorization Act is endorsed by the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians, International Association of Fire Fighters, International Association of Fire Chiefs, National Rural Health Association, National Volunteer Fire Council, and National Fire Protection Association.

Video of Durbin's remarks on the floor is available here.

Audio of Durbin's remarks on the floor is available here.

Footage of Durbin's remarks on the floor is available here for TV Stations.

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