Paramedic and Emergency Medical Technician Relief Act of 2024
If passed, the bill will allow up to 2,500 foreign EMTs and paramedics to enter the U.S. each fiscal year. It establishes strict requirements for employers to ensure that hiring foreign workers does not negatively impact the wages and working conditions of existing EMTs and paramedics. Employers must demonstrate their efforts to recruit from the domestic labor market and provide competitive wages. This could contribute positively to the workforce by filling gaps in emergency services, but it also raises questions about the balance between employing foreign workers and protecting domestic jobs.
House Bill 10007, known as the Paramedic and Emergency Medical Technician Relief Act of 2024, seeks to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to create a specific visa category (H-1D) for nonimmigrant emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics. The bill is aimed at addressing staffing shortages in emergency medical services across the United States by enabling qualified foreign EMTs and paramedics to work temporarily in high-demand positions in the healthcare system. This is particularly important given the increasing need for emergency medical services derived from both population growth and the aging demographic of the country.
The bill has generated notable contention regarding its potential effects on the labor market. Proponents argue that the legislation will alleviate significant workforce shortages in EMT and paramedic roles, ensuring that critical emergency services can be met effectively. However, opponents raise concerns about the impact on domestic workers, suggesting that the influx of foreign EMTs and paramedics could suppress wages or take jobs from American workers. Consequently, the provisions for monitoring and compliance with labor standards are crucial elements of the bill that aim to address these concerns.