Emergency Medical Services Systems Act of 1973
Public Law 93-154 · S. 2410 · 93rd Congress · began in the Senate
Signed by Richard Nixon (R) on Nov 16, 1973 · Health
Sponsor: Sen. Alan Cranston (D-CA)
Cosponsors (19): Sen. Ted Kennedy, Sen. Richard Schweiker,
Passage votes
- HouseMethod not stated
- SenateMethod not stated
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
Emergency Medical Services Systems Act - Provides, under the Public Health Service Act, that the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare may make grants to and enter into contracts with eligible entities for projects which include both: (1) studying the feasibility of establishing and operating an emergency medical services system, and (2) planning the establishment and operation of such a system. Sets forth the qualifications and application such a grant must meet.
Authorizes the Secretary to make grants for: (1) the establishment and initial operation of emergency medical services systems: (2) projects for the expansion and improvement of emergency medical services systems; and (3) support of research in emergency medical techniques, methods, devices and delivery.
Defines "eligible entity" as a State, a unit of general local government, a public entity administering a compact or other regional arrangement or consorium, or any other public entity and any nonprofit private entity.
Requires that an emergency medical services system shall: (1) include an adequate number of health professions, allied health professions, and other health personnel with appropriate training and experience; (2) provide for its personnel appropriate training and continuing education programs; (3) join the personnel, facilities, and equipment of the system by a central communications system; (4) include an adequate number of necessary ground, air, and water vehicles and other transportation facilities to meet the individual characteristics of the system's service area; and (5) provide other enumerated criteria services.
Authorizes, for the purpose of making payments pursuant to specified grants and contracts, to be appropriated $30,000,000 for fiscal year 1974; $60,000,000 for fiscal year 1975; and $70,000,000 for fiscal year 1976.
Directs the Secretary to administer the program of grants and contracts through an identifiable administrative unit within the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. Provides that the Secretary shall establish an Interagency Committee on Emergency Medical Services to evaluate the adequacy of all Federal activities which relate to emergency medical services. Provides for the appointment of Committee members.
Provides, under the Public Health Service Act, that the Secretary may make grants to an enter into contracts with schools of medicine, dentistry, osteopathy, nursing, and training centers for allied health professions to assist in meeting the cost of training programs in the techniques and methods of providing emergency medical services.
Directs the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to conduct a study on the legal barriers to the effective delivery of medical care under emergency conditions and to report the results of such study to the Congress.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 11 actions.
- Nov 16, 1973Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public law 93-154.
- Nov 5, 1973PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- Oct 31, 1973Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to Senate amendments.
- Oct 30, 1973Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to House amendments with an amendment.
- Oct 25, 1973FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended, in lieu of H.R. 10956.
- Sep 24, 1973CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Energy and Commerce Committee
- Sep 19, 1973FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended, roll call #399 (93-0).Senate roll call 399
- Sep 18, 1973CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee
- Sep 13, 1973CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the Senate
Data notes
Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.