Press Contact
Tristan North
Senior Vice President
American Ambulance Association
tnorth@ambulance.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Congressman Brad Finstad Honored as 2024 Legislator of the Year by the American Ambulance Association

Washington, D.C. — September 23, 2024 — Congressman Brad Finstad, representing Minnesota’s 1st District, has been named the 2024 Legislator of the Year by the American Ambulance Association (AAA) in recognition of his exceptional leadership in tackling the pressing workforce challenges faced by the emergency medical services (EMS) industry.

As the EMS community confronts a serious shortage of qualified personnel, Congressman Finstad has emerged as a crucial champion for effective solutions. His leadership on H.R. 6433, the PARA-EMT Act, marks a significant advancement in efforts to attract and retain EMS professionals nationwide.

The PARA-EMT Act seeks to establish an EMS Workforce Grant aimed at recruiting, training, and retaining EMS professionals. It also includes a provision to assist combat medics with first response experience in their transition to the civilian workforce and directs the Department of Labor and the Department of Health and Human Services to conduct a study on the EMS workforce shortage and the necessary training and education to meet the evolving demands of the pre-hospital industry over the next decade.

Congressman Finstad’s leadership and commitment exemplify his dedication to sustaining a robust future for emergency medical services and to serving our nation’s veterans.

“Congressman Finstad’s devotion to the EMS workforce is vital to not only our industry, but to all of America’s communities,” stated AAA President Randy Strozyk. “His leadership has established a foundation for policies that will help mitigate the workforce crisis, ensuring our communities receive the critical care they require.”

The American Ambulance Association is proud to present the Legislator of the Year Award to Congressman Brad Finstad for his efforts on behalf of the EMS industry.

The award will be presented at the AAA Stars of Life event in Washington, D.C., on November 12th.

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About AAA

The American Ambulance Association represents ambulance services across the United States that participate in serving more than 75% of the U.S. population with emergency and non-emergency care and medical transportation. The AAA was formed in response to the need for improvements in medical transportation and emergency medical services. AAA views pre-hospital care not only as a public service, but also as an essential part of the total public health care system.