SA 3762. Ms. LANDRIEU submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 3500 proposed by Mr. HARKIN (for himself, Mr. CHAMBLISS, Mr. BAUCUS, and Mr. GRASSLEY) to the bill H.R. 2419, to provide for the continuation of agricultural programs through fiscal year 2012, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

At the end of subtitle B of title XI, add the following:
SEC. 11__X. RURAL FIREFIGHTERS AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
Section 6405 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 2655) is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 6405. RURAL FIREFIGHTERS AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
``(a) Definition of Emergency Medical Service.--In this section:
``(1) IN GENERAL.--The term `emergency medical service' means any resource used by a qualified public or private entity, or by any other entity recognized as qualified by the State involved, to deliver medical care outside of a medical facility under emergency conditions that occur as a result of--
``(A) the condition of the patient; or
``(B) a natural disaster or similar situation.
``(2) INCLUSIONS.--The term `emergency medical service' includes (compensated or volunteer) services delivered by an emergency medical service provider or other provider recognized by the State involved that is licensed or certified by the State as an emergency medical technician or the equivalent (as determined by the State), a registered nurse, a physician assistant, or a physician that provides services similar to services provided by such an emergency medical service provider.
``(b) Grants.--The Secretary shall award grants to eligible entities--
``(1) to enable the entities to provide for improved emergency medical services in rural areas; and
``(2) to pay the cost of training firefighters and emergency medical personnel in firefighting, emergency medical practices, and responding to hazardous materials and bioagents in rural areas.
``(c) Eligibility.--To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, an entity shall--
``(1) be--
``(A) a State emergency medical services office;
``(B) a State emergency medical services association;
``(C) a State office of rural health;
``(D) a local government entity;
``(E) an Indian tribe (as defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b));
``(F) a State or local ambulance provider; or
``(G) any other entity determined to be appropriate by the Secretary; and
``(2) prepare and submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, that includes--
``(A) a description of the activities to be carried out under the grant; and
``(B) an assurance that the applicant will comply with the matching requirement of subsection (f).
``(d) Use of Funds.--An entity shall use amounts received under a grant made under subsection (b) only in rural areas--
``(1) to hire or recruit emergency medical service personnel;
``(2) to recruit or retain volunteer emergency medical service personnel;
``(3) to train emergency medical service personnel in emergency response, injury prevention, safety awareness, and other topics relevant to the delivery of emergency medical services;
``(4) to fund training to meet Federal or State certification requirements;
``(5) to provide training for firefighters and emergency medical personnel for improvements to the training facility, equipment, curricula, and personnel;
``(6) to develop new ways to educate emergency health care providers through the use of technology-enhanced educational methods (such as distance learning); and
``(7) to educate the public concerning cardiopulmonary resuscitation, first aid, injury prevention, safety awareness, illness prevention, and other related emergency preparedness topics.
``(e) Preference.--In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall give preference to--
``(1) applications that reflect a collaborative effort by 2 or more of the entities described in subparagraphs (A) through (G) of subsection (c)(1); and
``(2) applications submitted by entities that intend to use amounts provided under the grant to fund activities described in any of paragraphs (1) through (5) of subsection (d).
``(f) Matching Requirement.--The Secretary may not make a grant under this section to an entity unless the entity agrees that the entity will make available (directly or through contributions from other public or private entities) non-Federal contributions toward the activities to be carried out under the grant in an amount equal to 5 percent of the amount received under the grant.
``(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--
``(1) IN GENERAL.--There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section not more than $30,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012.
``(2) ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.--Not more than 10 percent of the amount appropriated under paragraph (1) for a fiscal year may be used for administrative expenses.''.


(As printed in the Congressional Record for the Senate on Nov 15, 2007.)