Buchanan amendment to improve EMS at U.S. bases passes House

An amendment offered by U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) that would require the Pentagon to examine emergency medical services at U.S. military bases on Monday received approval from the U.S. House of Representatives as part of a larger defense measure.

Rep. Buchanan sponsored the amendment to the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021, H.R. 6395, which the House approved on July 21 in a 295-125 vote.

The amendment stemmed from last year’s death of Bradenton, Fla., SPC Nicholas Panipinto, who died after a vehicle training accident while serving in South Korea. A lack of emergency services on base and delays in medical response were cited in contributing to his death, according to Rep. Buchanan’s office.

“The heartbreaking and very preventable death of my constituent SPC Nicholas Panipinto clearly shows that changes in training and safety procedures need to be made,” said Rep. Buchanan. “The serious deficiencies and failures identified in the report on SPC Panipinto’s death call for immediate reforms within the Department of Defense. I want to make sure that no family has to go through the pain and suffering that SPC Panipinto’s family has faced.”

If enacted as part of H.R. 6395, the amendment would require the U.S. Department of Defense to examine emergency response capabilities and services currently available at every U.S. military base around the world and to report to Congress on the potential benefits and feasibility of requiring bases to have properly functioning MedEvac helicopters and fully-stocked military ambulances, according to a summary of the amendment provided by the congressman’s staff.

“The highest tribute that can be paid to the life of SPC Panipinto is that the Defense Department will make sure that future military personnel who are injured during training exercises can quickly receive high-quality medical treatment that might help save their lives,” Rep. Buchanan said.