Mike Schulz, Associate Dean of Public Safety Programs at Truckee Meadows Community College (TMCC), and Dennis Nolan, Emergency Management Coordinator, took part in the EMS On The Hill Day 2025. This national advocacy event is organized by the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT) and they represented both Nevada and TMCC.
During the event, Schulz and Nolan met with the entire Nevada congressional delegation. This included Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, Senator Jacky Rosen, Representative Dina Titus, Representative Susie Lee, Representative Steven Horsford, and Representative Mark Amodei. Their discussions centered on legislative priorities for EMS agencies nationwide, with an emphasis on access, funding, and workforce development.
"I was deeply touched at the kind gesture of time. During a very busy season for our Senator she was gracious and concerned about EMS’s providers and their future. That was evident by the attention and time she gave," stated Schulz, referring to their meeting with Senator Cortez Masto.
Congressional requests presented included Medicare reimbursement for Treatment in Place under the proposed CARE Act, support for Mobile Integrated Healthcare and Community Paramedicine through the Community Paramedicine Act, increased funding for rural EMS via the SIREN Act, support for the PARA-EMT Act to tackle nationwide workforce shortages, and accurate data collection through the EMS Counts Act. Additional topics were the extension of Medicare Ground Ambulance Add-On Payments and participation in the Congressional EMS Caucus.
Schulz and Nolan also highlighted the significant role of Nevada’s community colleges, particularly TMCC, in boosting access to quality public safety education. They stressed the importance of continued investment in community-based training which forms the backbone of Nevada’s EMS, fire, and emergency management workforce.
A noteworthy experience for Schulz was at Congresswoman Dina Titus’s office, where they met a staffer who is a TMCC alumnus. Schulz remarked, "It was a proud moment to see the reach of TMCC’s programs firsthand. It reinforces the impact our public safety programs have—not just locally, but nationally—and the importance of keeping educational access strong."
In addition, Schulz and Nolan joined the national EMS group at the Capitol, showing unity with professionals from across the U.S. Their participation highlighted TMCC’s leadership in EMS education and its commitment to the future of emergency response both in Nevada and nationwide.
For further details, the TMCC Public Safety Department can be contacted at 775-336-4270.