EMS Counts Act
Summary
What This Bill Does
The EMS Counts Act addresses how the Bureau of Labor Statistics counts emergency medical services workers. The findings state that EMS personnel respond to more than 22 million emergency calls each year and include paramedics, EMTs, dual-role firefighter/EMTs, firefighter/paramedics, and volunteers. The bill says BLS undercounts EMS practitioners because the Standard Occupational Classification system does not include dual-role firefighter/EMTs and firefighter/paramedics in EMS workforce counts. Within 120 days after enactment, the Labor Secretary must revise the broad description under SOC series 33-2011 for firefighters to include detailed occupations for firefighters, firefighter/EMTs, firefighter/paramedics, and firefighters all other. Within 270 days, Labor must report to Congress on the 2015 actions to expand the EMT and paramedic definition under series 29-2040 and on implementation of the firefighter revisions. The practical effect is better federal labor data for emergency workforce planning, disaster preparedness, public health response, and funding debates.
Who Benefits and How
Dual-role firefighter/EMTs benefit from being separately recognized in federal occupational data. Firefighter/paramedics benefit from more accurate BLS classification and workforce counts. EMS agencies benefit from labor data that better reflects staffing needs and preparedness capacity. Local public safety departments benefit if improved data supports grant, staffing, and policy decisions.
Who Bears the Burden and How
Bureau of Labor Statistics classification staff must revise SOC firefighter descriptions within 120 days. Labor Department reporting staff must explain prior EMT-paramedic classification changes and implementation within 270 days. Fire departments may need to align local workforce reporting with new federal categories. Congressional labor committees must review the implementation report.
Key Provisions
- Requires BLS to revise firefighter occupational classifications within 120 days.
- Adds detailed occupations for firefighters, firefighter/EMTs, firefighter/paramedics, and firefighters all other.
- Requires a 270-day report to Congress on prior EMT-paramedic classification expansion.
- Requires the report to describe implementation of the new firefighter classification revisions.
Evidence Chain:
This summary is generated from the full bill text using AI analysis. Expand "Detailed Analysis" below for identified beneficiaries/burden bearers with clause-level evidence links.
At a Glance
What This Bill Does
Requires the Labor Secretary within 120 days to revise BLS Standard Occupational Classification series 33-2011 for firefighters to separately recognize firefighters, firefighter/EMTs, firefighter/paramedics, and firefighters all other, and requires a congressional report within 270 days on prior EMT-paramedic classification changes and implementation.
Key Policy Areas
Labor Statistics, Emergency Medical Services, Public Safety
Primary Purpose
Requires the Labor Secretary within 120 days to revise BLS Standard Occupational Classification series 33-2011 for firefighters to separately recognize firefighters, firefighter/EMTs, firefighter/paramedics, and firefighters all other, and requires a congressional report within 270 days on prior EMT-paramedic classification changes and implementation.
Policy Domains
Resolution provisions
Identified Gains
- Dual-role firefighter/EMTs
- Firefighter/paramedics
- EMS agencies
- Local public safety departments
Identified Costs
- Bureau of Labor Statistics classification staff
- Labor Department reporting staff
- Fire departments
- Congressional labor committees
Sponsors
Legislative Progress
In CommitteeMr. Thompson of Pennsylvania (for himself and Mr. Mannion) introduced …
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Introduced in House
Stakeholder Effects
cui bono?How this legislation distributes effects. Mention counts reflect frequency, not effect magnitude.
Dual-role firefighter/EMTs, EMS agencies, Firefighter/paramedics
Fire departments, Local public safety departments
Bureau of Labor Statistics classification staff, Labor Department reporting staff
Bill Structure & Actor Mappings
Who is "The Secretary" in each section?
We use a combination of our own taxonomy and classification in addition to large language models to assess meaning and potential beneficiaries. High confidence means strong textual evidence. Always verify with the original bill text.
Learn more about our methodology