Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez Visits Cowlitz County EMTs to Learn About Challenges Facing Emergency Medicine

Resources / Press Share on Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez Visits Cowlitz County EMTs to Learn About Challenges Facing Emergency Medicine Oct 23, 2026 Press LONGVIEW, WA — Today, Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez met with paramedics and EMTs at Medix Ambulance in Longview to learn about the unique challenges they face providing emergency care in and around rural communities. Emergency workers also gave the Congresswoman a tour of their facility and talked with her about their ongoing equipment needs to continue to provide high quality care. After the tour, the Congresswoman also met with members of the American Ambulance Association who recognized her with an award for her legislative excellence supporting EMTs and the EMS workforce. Earlier this year, the Congresswoman introduced the bipartisan PARA EMT Act to address EMS staffing shortages by making it easier for experienced veterans to transition from medics to becoming certified paramedics and EMTs. The bill would establish grantmaking to strengthen recruitment and retention, and to study workforce conditions. It is designed to identify any barriers and consider potential benefits of implementing recruitment and retention strategies. “When you call emergency services, the people who respond bring with them a unique combination of skill and bravery that you can’t get anywhere else. In rural areas–where we don’t take healthcare access for granted–the passions of public service and community building mean everything.” said Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez. “Thank you to the brave men and women at Medix Ambulance for taking the time to talk with me about the challenges facing EMS workers every day. I’m proud to continue making the investment needed to build a capable and durable workforce in such a vital field.” The Congresswoman has also used her position on the appropriations committee to support EMS workers by including language in the FY26 and FY27 LHHSE Appropriations report to study workforce shortages in the EMS industry and encourage the department to address them. She also passed an amendment in the FY26 FSGG Appropriations bill urging the FTC to study consolidation in the emergency vehicle market, driving up costs for local governments. Last year, Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez was also a cosponsor of the bipartisan Protecting Access to Ground Ambulance Medical Services Act, which would extend the specialized rate increase for Medicare payment of ground ambulance services in rural areas until 2028. ### Share on