H.R. 4390House115th Congress (2017-2019)In Committee

Hometown Heroes Relief Act of 2017

Introduced November 14, 2017

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 15, 2026 at 7:03 PM UTC

The Hometown Heroes Relief Act of 2017 reauthorizes a federal program that helps rural emergency medical service (EMS) squads with training and equipment. It updates how grant money can be used, clarifies what counts as EMS, and provides funding for the next five fiscal years. The bill mainly affects EMS providers and volunteers serving non‑metropolitan or otherwise designated rural areas.

Key Provisions

  • Grants may be used by rural EMS squads to train personnel, meet certification requirements, develop technology‑based education, buy medical equipment, and purchase personal protective equipment required by OSHA.
  • The law defines "emergency medical services" to include both public and private nonprofit providers, as well as qualified state‑recognized entities delivering out‑of‑hospital medical care.
  • Appropriates $10 million per year for FY 2018‑2022 to fund the program, with up to 10 % of each year's allocation allowed for administrative costs.

Legislative Activity

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2 earlier actions
HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

November 17, 2017

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

November 14, 2017

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

November 14, 2017

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

November 17, 2017

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued November 14, 2017

I

115th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 4390

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

November 14, 2017

Mr. Gianforte (for himself and Mr. Duffy) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

A BILL

To reauthorize the rural emergency medical service training and equipment assistance program under section 330J of the Public Health Service Act.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Hometown Heroes Relief Act of 2017.

2.

Reauthorization of rural emergency medical service training and equipment assistance program

Section 330J of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254c–15) is amended by striking subsections (c) through (g) and inserting the following:

(c)

Use of funds

An entity shall use amounts received under a grant made under subsection (a) of this section, either directly or through grants to emergency medical service squads that are located in, or that serve residents of, a nonmetropolitan statistical area, an area designated as a rural area by any law or regulation of a State, or a rural census tract of a metropolitan statistical area (as determined under the most recent Goldsmith Modification, originally published in a notice of availability of funds in the Federal Register on February 27, 1992, 57 Fed. Reg. 6725), to—

(1)

train emergency medical service personnel in emergency response, injury prevention, safety awareness, and other topics relevant to the delivery of emergency medical services;

(2)

fund specific training to meet Federal or State certification requirements;

(3)

develop new ways to educate emergency health care providers through the use of technology-enhanced educational methods (such as distance learning);

(4)

acquire emergency medical services equipment; and

(5)

acquire personal protective equipment for emergency medical services personnel as required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

(d)

Emergency medical services

In this section, the term emergency medical services

(1)

means resources used by a qualified public or private nonprofit 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 the condition of the patient; and

(2)

includes services delivered by an emergency medical services provider (either compensated or volunteer) or other provider recognized by the State involved that is licensed or certified by the State as an emergency medical technician or its 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 services provider.

(e)

Authorization of appropriations

(1)

In general

There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for each fiscal years 2018 through 2022.

(2)

Administrative costs

The Secretary may use not more than 10 percent of the amount appropriated under paragraph (1) for a fiscal year for the administrative expenses of carrying out this section.

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