Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
The EMS Counts Act directs the Secretary of Labor to revise the 2018 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) to explicitly list firefighter/EMTs and firefighter/paramedics under the firefighter series so dual-role EMS practitioners are counted. The Secretary must complete the SOC revision within 120 days and deliver a report to Congress within 270 days describing prior 2015 actions and implementation steps.
Progressives emphasize funding and using data to support EMS workers
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill is a narrowly focused administrative directive that clearly defines the problem and prescribes specific SOC-category additions with firm deadlines and a reporting requirement, but it provides limited technical detail and no resource/fiscal guidance.
The EMS Counts Act directs the Secretary of Labor to revise the 2018 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) to explicitly list firefighter/EMTs and firefighter/paramedics under the firefighter series so dual-role EMS practitioners are counted.
The Secretary must complete the SOC revision within 120 days and deliver a report to Congress within 270 days describing prior 2015 actions and implementation steps.
The stated purpose is to improve the accuracy of EMS workforce counts for preparedness and policy planning.
Narrow administrative fix with low controversy increases chances, but many technical bills stall due to limited floor time and competing legislative priorities.
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill is a narrowly focused administrative directive that clearly defines the problem and prescribes specific SOC-category additions with firm deadlines and a reporting requirement, but it provides limited technical detail and no resource/fiscal guidance.
Progressives emphasize funding and using data to support EMS workers
These are examples from the analysis, not a ranked list of the most-affected groups.
Progressives emphasize funding and using data to support EMS workers
Likely supportive.
The bill corrects a data gap that obscures the size and needs of EMS workers, especially dual-role and volunteer practitioners.
Progressives would view better data as necessary for equitable funding, workforce protections, and emergency preparedness, while noting the bill does not itself provide resources.
Generally favorable but pragmatic.
Fixing a classification error is a modest, evidence-based step that improves policymaking.
Concerns focus on execution: methodology, continuity of statistics, transparency, and administrative timelines.
Cautiously supportive if limited to counting and classification.
The bill is a narrow technical fix that recognizes first responders.
Conservatives will watch for any downstream expansions of federal programs or funding tied to the new counts.
Reached or meaningfully advanced
Reached or meaningfully advanced
Still ahead
Still ahead
Still ahead
Narrow administrative fix with low controversy increases chances, but many technical bills stall due to limited floor time and competing legislative priorities.
The bill has not accumulated any surfaced votes yet.
Progressives emphasize funding and using data to support EMS workers
Narrow administrative fix with low controversy increases chances, but many technical bills stall due to limited floor time and competing le…
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill is a narrowly focused administrative directive that clearly defines the problem and prescribes specific SOC-category additions with firm deadlines and a reporting req…
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