HR2196-119

What This Bill Does

The National Emergency Medical Services Memorial Extension Act gives the National Emergency Medical Services Memorial project more time under the Commemorative Works Act. Public Law 115-275 authorized the memorial, but commemorative works in the District of Columbia and surrounding federal lands normally face a seven-year authorization period. This bill amends that prior law so references to expiration or extension beyond a seven-year period are treated as referring to the date that is seven years after enactment of this extension bill. The practical effect is to preserve legal authority for the EMS memorial sponsor to keep working on site, design, approval, fundraising, and construction steps rather than losing authority because the original clock expired.

Who Benefits and How

Emergency medical services personnel benefit because the memorial effort receives extended legal authority to honor EMS workers who served communities and died or sacrificed in service. Families of EMS personnel benefit from continued progress toward a national memorial recognizing their relatives' public-safety role. The National Emergency Medical Services Memorial Foundation benefits from additional time to complete approvals, fundraising, and construction planning. National Park Service and commemorative-works reviewers benefit from a clearer statutory deadline for the project. Public-safety organizations benefit from a federal memorial pathway that remains alive instead of expiring.

Who Bears the Burden and How

The National Emergency Medical Services Memorial sponsor must still satisfy Commemorative Works Act design, siting, fundraising, and construction requirements during the extended period. National Park Service and National Capital Memorial Advisory Commission staff must continue review and coordination for the memorial. Congressional committees retain oversight of an additional commemorative-work authorization period. Competing memorial sponsors may face continued competition for attention, review capacity, and eligible commemorative sites.

Key Provisions

• Extends legislative authority for the National Emergency Medical Services Memorial.
• Amends Public Law 115-275 to reset the Commemorative Works Act seven-year timing rule.
• Provides that expiration and extension references run for seven years after enactment of this extension Act.
• Preserves the memorial sponsor's ability to continue approval, fundraising, and construction work.
• Leaves ordinary Commemorative Works Act review and siting requirements in place.