WASHINGTON — U.S. Representatives Glenn Thompson (R-PA) and John Mannion (D-NY) have introduced the “EMS Counts Act,” aimed at correcting the long-standing undercounting of emergency personnel.
Currently, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics does not accurately classify firefighters who are also trained as paramedics or EMTs. This oversight leads to a significant nationwide undercount of cross-trained emergency responders, making it difficult to identify service gaps and effectively support the first responder workforce.
The EMS Counts Act would mandate the Bureau of Labor Statistics to update its Standard Occupational Classification System to more accurately represent the number of paramedics, EMTs and other first responders across communities nationwide, according to a press release from Thompson’s office.
“Prior to serving in Congress, I spent decades as a volunteer firefighter and EMT. I recognize and value to the commitment these individuals have to their communities,” Rep. Thompson said. “Correcting outdated classifications is important, because without a accurate count of the number of EMTs, paramedics, and other emergency service providers, it creates a challenge to adequately meet the health and safety needs of our communities.”
Rep. John Mannion said the bipartisan EMS Counts Act will ensure first responders are accurately represented in national workforce data, helping improve emergency planning and resource allocation.
IAFF President Edward Kelly added that EMS is a core part of the fire service and that misclassification has led to flawed data affecting planning and protections for fire-based EMS providers.
NAEMT President Chris Way called the bill foundational for the EMS community, saying undercounting EMS personnel undermines funding and policy decisions critical to delivering life-saving care.
