Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – A wall honoring the five Medal of Honor recipients from Orleans County is complete. The Orleans County Legislature expects to have a ceremony for the wall in May close to Memorial Day.

The wall was recently completed by Takeform in Medina and includes five plaques for the recipients and wallpaper of a bald eagle and an American flag.

The display is on the second from of the County Office Building. The Orleans County Veterans Service Agency and the legislative staff worked with Takeform on the project.

The county introduced the wall on March 23, 2022 when a portrait was unveiled of David Bellavia, a Lyndonville native, being presented the Medal of Honor from president Donald Trump on June 26, 2019 at the White House.

Bellavia is the first living veteran from the Iraq War to receive the nation’s highest military medal. He was honored for his acts of valor on Nov. 10, 2004 in Fallujah, Iraq. Bellavia led an infantry squad clearing houses of insurgents, saving the lives of the members of his unit.

Four others in the county also have received the prestigious medal. The display includes an updated headshot of Bellavia and portraits of Forrest Vosler of Lyndonville and John Butts of Medina.

Photos aren’t available of the other recipients Thomas Wilbur Kates and Charles D. Harris.

• Forrest Vosler of Lyndonville was assigned as a radio operator and aerial gunner aboard a B-17 Flying Fortress during World War II with the 358th Bombardment Squadron, 303rd Bombardment Group stationed out of England. On Dec. 20, 1943, Vosler’s fourth combat mission. The plane was under fire and had two engines knocked out with the aircraft windmilling out of control.

When a fellow aviator was knocked unconscious, Vosler maneuvered himself into the tailgun. Another 20-mm shell hit the aircraft, sending shrapnel into Vosler’s chest, face, and eyes. He continued to deliver defensive fire upon German aircraft until the attacks subsided. Nearly out of fuel and losing altitude quickly, the crew jettisoned every piece of equipment to lighten the plane.

Vosler, severely wounded and floating in and out of consciousness, begged the crew to throw him out of the plane to reduce weight. As the aircraft plunged into the frigid waters of the North Sea, Vosler crawled out of the aircraft onto a wing. A passing Norwegian trawler quickly picked up the crew and transferred them to a British rescue vessel. One of Vosler’s eyes had one of his to be removed, and the other required extensive surgery.

• John E. Butts of Medina is the only one of the five Medal of Honor recipients from Orleans County who received the honor posthumously. He was recognized for his heroic actions near Cape La Hague, France in World War II.

John Butts was awarded the Medal of Honor for acts of valor in the Normandy invasion in June 1944.

Butts was in command of four squads in Easy Company of the 60th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion, 9th Infantry Division charged with driving towards St. Colombe, France. On June 12, 1944, 2nd Battalion progressed so quickly towards their objective that the remainder of 9th Division thought the 60th Infantry was lost. In fact, 2nd Battalion had pushed forward through heavy German resistance and established a bridgehead at the Douve River. Butts was wounded twice, first near Orglandes on June 14th and then at the Douve River just two days later; he refused medical treatment on both occasions in order to remain with his men.

On June 23, 1944, the 60th Infantry led the 9th Division’s advance from the Cotentin Peninsula as part of the breakout from St. Lo. While moving towards Flottemanville-Hague, Butts and his men encountered a German stronghold atop a hill, well defended with tanks, machine guns, and mortars. Butts was struck in the stomach by machine gun fire while progressing towards the objective. Pulling himself into the shelter of a nearby hedgerow, he planned a flanking maneuver with his Sergeants.

One squad was to progress up the left flank, another up the right flank, and the third was to remain in reserve. Holding one hand over his midsection and the other grasping his carbine, Butts charged the hill alone. The might of the entire German stronghold fell upon him directly, Butts falling approximately 10 yards from his objective. The distraction allowed the two flanking squads to outmaneuver the Germans while the third squad hit the hill head-on.

Awarded on July 19, 1945 by President Harry Truman, John Butts’ Medal of Honor citation references the two painful wounds he received in the days leading up to the deadly assault on June 23, 1944. His citation concluded by stating, “By his superb courage, unflinching valor and inspiring actions, 2d Lt. Butts enabled his platoon to take a formidable strong point and contributed greatly to the success of his battalion’s mission,” President Harry Truman said in the citation for the medal, which was awarded on July 19, 1945.

• Thomas Wilbur Kates, born in Shelby on May 7, 1865, received the Medal of Honor for his actions in 1900 during the Boxer Rebellion, a nearly two-year uprising led by the Yihetuan (or Boxers) against foreign imperialists in China.

Kates accepted enlistment with the U.S. Marine Corps at New York City on July 21, 1899. Pvt. Kates and other Marines were dispatched to China on June 18, 1900, where they remained through October 10, 1900. According to his citation, Kates was awarded the Medal of Honor “…for extraordinary heroism while serving with the 1st Regiment (Marines), in action in the presence of the enemy during the advance on Tientsin, China, 21 June 1900. Private Kates distinguished himself by meritorious conduct.”

Maj. Waller wrote in a letter dated July 6, 1900, that “…of the men I wish to say, while all in the engagements we participated in, behaved in such a manner as to bring forth the highest praise from the foreign officers…Cpl. Thomas W. Kates.”

He continued, “…the specifically distinguished of these being Corporal Kates and Privates Campbell and Francis, with the Colt gun.” According to the Report of the Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps dated September 29, 1900, these three men remained with Lt. Powell, holding a position with an M1895 Colt-Browning Machine Gun until all but Campbell and Powell were gunned down. They destroyed the gun to prevent it from entering enemy hands before they commenced their retreat.

• Charles D. Harris, who fought in the Civil War, was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroism in the Apache Wars in 1869. The specifics of the engagement and the actions that warranted the awarding of the medal remain shrouded in mystery. After the war, Harris returned to Albion and lived a quiet life until his passing on September 6, 1895. He is buried at Mount Albion Cemetery.

ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature approved a one-year labor agreement with about 160 members of the CSEA union.

The deal gives the county workers 2 percent pay increases in their hourly rate. Workers also will see the minimum work week go from 35 hours to 37.5. That will result in another 7 percent pay increase.

Some county employees also will have the option to work 40 hours a week, which would represent a 14 percent pay increase over the 35 hour work weeks.

The longer hours will help fill the gap from vacant positions. County Chief Administrative Officer Jack Welch said about a dozen positions tend to be open. The extra hours for county staff will Orleans keep up with services for the community.

The county offices will open a half hour earlier beginning Monday, April 14, at 8:30 a.m. and will close at 5 p.m. The summer office hours will be 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The extra hours among the existing workforce also will save the county on the costs of healthcare policies, which Welch said are now costing about $53,000 for family policies with $5,000 deductibles.

The county and CSEA typically reach three-year labor agreements. The one-year deal gives CSEA members and the county a chance to see if the cost for health insurance will come down.

This labor agreement is with the bargaining unit that doesn’t include management, Sheriff’s deputies or the staff at the jail.

Orleans says HALT Act has made prisons less safe and should be repealed

Lynne Johnson and John Fitzak

ALBION – Orleans County legislators passed two resolutions on Thursday urging the governor to rescind an executive order barring terminated corrections officers in the prison strike from other public service jobs.

County legislators also said the HALT Act has made prisons less safe and should be repealed. Corrections officers went on strike for about three weeks, beginning Feb. 17, primarily due to their concerns with the HALT Act and how it limited discipline in the prison for inmates who are violent and don’t follow the rules.

Hochul on March 10 fired about 2,000 corrections officers after they refused to meet a deadline for reporting to work. She also prohibited them from taking other jobs with state and local governments.

John Fitzak, a retired corrections officer from the Orleans Correctional Facility, spoke during Thursday’s County Legislature meeting.

“The governor’s executive order does a disservice to the public by taking away a pool of highly qualified applicants from jobs we need filled,” Fitzak said. “It is mean-spirited, revengeful, and immoral and, as such, should be immediately repealed.”

Fitzak said the HALT Act “has failed miserably” and created an unsafe working conditions for the corrections officers.

“Those who passed this outrageous legislation would not listen to the corrections officers when they raised concerns.” Fitzak said. “It forced the corrections officers to take matters into their own hands and walk off the job to draw attention to their plight.”

Corrections officers also said prisons were severely understaffed and COs were forced to do mandatory overtime and many officers were routinely working 60 to 80 hours a week. That kept them away from their families too often, many of the COs said.

The governor fired 2,000 people for expressing their concerns, Fitzak said.

“But that punitive measure was not enough for the governor,” Fitzak said during Thursday’s Legislature meeting. “She then issued an executive order essentially banning these brave women and men from making a living elsewhere in government.”

County Legislature Chairwoman Lynne Johnson said the Legislature’s resolutions are a message to the correction officers to “say loudly and clearly that Orleans County supports you.”

Johnson said many county officials around the state believe Hochul’s order is illegal in banning corrections officers from working for the state and local governments.

Johnson said that executive order from the governor contrasts with the “Clean Slate Act” legislation signed by the governor that wipes the record clean for some criminals so they have a better chance of getting a job.

“The governor felt those folks had paid their debt to society and deserved a second chance,” Johnson said.

Hochul, however, is showing no compassion for the terminated corrections officers, who Hochul has brandished with “a scarlet letter,” Johnson said.

Orleans County and other local governments around the state have job openings and could use the correction officers “at a time when finding people is very challenging.” Several have applied for positions in Orleans County government, Johnson said.

Orleans County is working with New York State Association of Counties, county attorney Kathy Bogan and other counties to understand “this unprecedented, unnecessary and probably unlawful action by the governor and how we can move forward,” Johnson said. “To the corrections officer community, let me reiterate, we are with you.”

Copies of the county resolutions will be forwarded to Gov. Kathy Hochul. Assemblyman Steve Hawley, State Sen. Rob Ortt, Congresswoman Claudia Tenney and the New York State Association of Counties.

Press Release, Holley Central School District

Kelly Hill

HOLLEY – The Holley Central School District is pleased to introduce Kelly Hill, who will serve as the district’s new Director of Transportation.

Hill was appointed at the March 17 Board of Education meeting and will assume her role on April 28.

Hill will direct and supervise the district’s Transportation Department, ensuring both efficient operation and safety of students. She brings a wealth of experience, including nine years serving as Safety Supervisor at Student Transportation of America in Alexander, NY, overseeing compliance and training. She possesses her Commercial Driver’s License and is a NYS Department of Education licensed School Bus Driver Instructor and a Department of Motor Vehicles 19A Examiner.

Hill is eager to join the Holley CSD team and start building strong relationships.

“I look forward to making a difference in the lives of my co-workers and the families that I will be serving in this position,” Hill said. “Know that I will do my best to address issues and concerns, and I will be open to working together for the same goal, putting children first in all things. Thank you for this opportunity to serve the Holley community.”

The district extends a warm welcome to Hill.

“I am excited to have someone with Kelly’s experience join the Holley CSD family,” said Karri Schiavone, Holley district superintendent. “I am confident in her ability to lead our Transportation Department and oversee one of the most important responsibilities in our district, the safe transportation of our students.”

This change in leadership comes after the retirement of Tammy Beaney, former director of transportation.

Press Release, U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo, Western District of NY

ROCHESTER – U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Tonya D’Agostino, 53, of Farmington, who pleaded guilty to HIPAA: unlawfully obtaining/disclosing individually identifying health information, was sentenced to serve one year probation by Chief U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford. D’Agostino was also ordered to pay $13,410.42 in restitution.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Katelyn M. Hartford, who is handling the case, stated that on March 23, 2023, D’Agostino mailed a USPS Priority Mail parcel to an individual in Medina, NY, which contained individually identifiable health information of four individuals.

D’Agostino did not have authorization to obtain or disclose the individually identifiable health information. She did this in an attempt to obtain $216,000 from the individual who received the parcel.

The sentencing is the result of an investigation by Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia, and Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Naomi Gruchacz.

BARRE/SHELBY – The Orleans Economic Development Agency held public hearings in Shelby on Tuesday and Barre on Wednesday for the tax incentives being offered Hemlock Ridge Solar/AES for its $400 million solar project that would be 82 percent in Barre and 18 percent in Shelby.

The company is slated to receive $6,230,000 in tax abatements in year one. AES won’t have to pay $4,930,000 in sales tax or $1.3 million in the mortgage tax. It also will be exempted from $63,583 in the local property tax.

Instead, the company will begin paying local governments nearly $40 million in a host community agreement over the next 30 years. The agreement starts with $900,000 the first year, which is $4,500 per megawatt in a 200 MW project. The amounts then increase 2 percent annually over 30 years.

Map from AES: The 200 megawatt solar project in Barre and Shelby would be along Crane, Townline and Burns roads near the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge.

The Orleans EDA also will be paid a 1.25 percent administration fee on a $400 million project or $4,519,804 with $750,000 upon execution of the project assistance agreement (within 30 days of the EDA board’s approval of the project) and then another $3,769,804 at the close of financing.

The agreement includes the following payments over 30 years to these taxing jurisdictions:

• The Town of Barre will receive $14,007,929 over 30 years for an annual average of $466,931, ranging from $295,200 in year 1 to $646,077 in year 30.
• The Town of Shelby will be paid $3,074,911 over 30 years for an annual average of $102,497, ranging from $64,800 in year 1 to $141,822 in year 30.
• Orleans County will be paid $7,923,242 over 30 years for an annual average of $264,108, ranging from $64,800 in year 1 to $141,822 in year 30.
• Albion Central School will be paid $10,407,330 over 30 years for an annual average of $346,911, ranging from $256,540 in year 1 to $455,575 in year 30.
• Oakfield-Alabama Central School will be paid $1,213,558 over 30 years for an annual average of $40,452, ranging from $29,914 in year 1 to $$53,123 in year 30.
• Medina Central School will be paid $2,363,633 over 30 years for an annual average of $78,754, ranging from $58,239 in year 1 to $103,423 in year 30.

AES also will pay $100,000 a year for 10 years to National Grid to help lower local electricity bills. That will be for $1 million total over 10 years.

As a percentage of the funds for the taxing jurisdictions, Barre will receive 35.9 percent, Shelby at 7.9 percent, Orleans County at 20.3 percent, Albion Central School at 26.7 percent, Medina Central School at 6.1 percent, and Oakfield-Alabama Central School at 3.1 percent.

The total community payments include $39,989,603 over 30 years with $38,989,603 to taxing jurisdictions and $1 million to National Grid.

The EDA board of directors is scheduled to vote at 8 a.m. on Monday on the tax incentive plan.

Kirk Mathes, a member of the Barre Town Board, speaks at Wednesday’s hearing in Barre, which was only attended by a few people. Steve Harling of the Planning Board is at left. Mathes said the Orleans Economic Development Agency should have better advertised the hearing. The EDA said the notices were on the EDA website and the agency met its legal requirements by posting in the official town newspaper, The Daily News of Batavia. The Orleans Hub and The Lake Country Pennysaver don’t meet the requirement because they aren’t printed periodicals with paid subscriptions.

Orleans EDA offering $454K in incentives for project

Photo by Tom Rivers: Helena Agri-Enterprises will be expanding at 3956 Allis Rd. in Ridgeway. The company built its facility in 2017 to serve the local agricultural community.

RIDGEWAY – A business serving local farmers will be expanding on Allis Road in Ridgeway.

Helena Agri-Enterprises expects to break ground this spring on a new facility for blending and storing fertilizer. Helena estimates the new complex will be complete Dec. 31, 2026.

The new 15,000-square-foot facility will give Helena more capacity to serve farm operations of all sizes, especially the larger ones in planting season where there is often a small weather window to get fertilizer in the ground.

“This will eliminate bottlenecks,” said John Ivison, Helena branch manager.

Helena has been operating in Orleans County for about 22 years, first in Albion before building the new complex in Ridgeway in 2017.

The new building will have storage for 4,000 tons of product. That is enough plant food and fertilizer for about 30,000 acres.

The Orleans Economic Development Agency held a public hearing on Wednesday for financial incentives for the estimated $4,275,000 project.

The EDA is proposing $454,663 in incentives over 10 years while Helena pays $158,288 to local governments in a PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes).

The company would get a sales tax exemption, saving Helena $261,200 or 8 percent on $3,265,000. It will get a sliding scale tax abatement over 10 years, with $35,175 exempted the first year and then 10 percent added over 10 years. Those exemption will save the company $193,463 in property taxes on the new facility over the decade.

Helena employs 15 people in Ridgeway and will add two full-time positions in the first year, and then a third position in year three with the average salaries at $55,000, according to its filing with the Orleans EDA.

Helena officials said the incentives will help mitigate the higher labor and energy costs in New York. Scott Gilliam, division manager for Helena, in a letter to the EDA board said the company’s labor costs are 20 percent higher in New York, and its energy expenses 15 percent more compared to the average in other states.

Press Release, Genesee & Orleans County Health Departments

Did you know that the only way to know if a child has been poisoned is to get them tested? There are often no clear signs or symptoms of lead poisoning. This is why testing children for lead is so important.

Lead is a metal that is harmful to our bodies and can cause serious health issues. “Children under 6 are most at risk for lead poisoning because their bodies are rapidly developing,” stated Gabrielle Lanich, Lead Program Coordinator of Genesee and Orleans County. “The health effects of lead poisoning are permanent and can affect a child into adulthood.”

Childhood lead poisoning can harm the brain and nervous system leading to learning difficulties, lower IQ, organ damage, and at very high levels can be fatal.

The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health) will be offering free finger-prick lead testing at the following immunization clinics this year.

Orleans County, 14016 Route 31 West, Suite 101, Albion, NY 14411

• Tuesday, April 15
• Tuesday, June 17

Genesee County Health Department at 3837 West Main Street Rd., Batavia, NY 14020

• Wednesday, June 11
• Wednesday, July 9

All clinics are between the hours of 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Testing is available for children ages 1-6. Children must be accompanied by parent or legal guardian. Please make an appointment by calling your local health department:

• Orleans County: (585) 589-3278
• Genesee County: (585) 344-2580 ext. 5555

For more information about GO Health Programs and services, visit GOHealthNY.org.

Visitors will be allowed to meet with incarcerated people in the state prisons this weekend, the first time since thousands of corrections officers went on strike about a month ago. The strike lasted about three weeks.

There are 42 state prisons and all will allow visitors this weekend, except for Upstate Correctional Facility in Malone, Franklin County.

The visitations will resume for weekends only, the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision announced today.

“The length of visits may be capped due to the volume of visitors expected,” DOCCS stated.

At the Albion Correctional Facility, visiting hours are from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. with the latest arrival time at 2 p.m.

At the Orleans Correctional Facility, the visiting hours are from 8 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. with the latest arrival at 2 p.m.

Among the proposals includes exempting tips and overtime from state taxes

Press Release, NYS Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt

Photo courtesy of Rob Ortt’s office: State Sen. Rob Ortt speaks at a press conference today with his Republican colleagues on the Million Dollar Staircase in Albany.

ALBANY – In the wake of a staggering $259 billion budget proposal passed by Senate Democrats last week, Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt and members of the Senate Republican Conference today called for the inclusion of several pieces of legislation in the enacted budget that would provide relief and help ease the affordability crisis being faced by New Yorkers.

These bills, part of the Senate Republican Conferences “Liberate New York,” 2025 Legislative Agenda– are aimed at helping families and businesses who are struggling under high taxes and skyrocketing costs on everything from utilities to housing.

“The Senate Republican Conference understands that we can’t make New York more affordable by continuing to increase spending and taxes the way our colleagues across the aisle are doing – it’s unsustainable,” Ortt said. “In contrast, our plan looks to cut taxes for individuals and businesses, lower utility rates, and help New Yorkers keep more of their hard-earned money in their own pockets. We can’t spend our way to affordability, so it’s our hope that our colleagues will join us in these real actions that will have real results.”

A key component of the Senate Republican agenda is legislation that will help make New York more affordable by allowing hardworking New Yorkers to keep more of their own money in their own pockets. Included in the affordability agenda highlighted today are bills that would:

• S.587 (Martins) – Exempts state taxes from cash tips.

• S.850 (Helming) – Establishes the First-time Homebuyer Tax Credit Act.

• S.1031 (Rolison) – Directs the Public Service Commission and the Comptroller to determine the cost of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act mandates for each ratepayer and to establish a credit for ratepayers and businesses to cover those costs.

• S.1487 (O’Mara) – Providing a $464 million tax cut to support small businesses by raising the corporate tax threshold from $390,000 to $500,000 and lowering the rate to 2.5%; expanding the small business exemption to all PIT businesses, regardless of whether they have employees and increasing the threshold to $500,000, raising the exemption to 15%, and setting the exemption at 20% for farmers.

• S.3914 (Martins) – Exempts state taxes from overtime compensation.

• S.4487 (Ashby) – Supplementing the State’s existing child tax credit by providing a $1,000 “baby bonus” refundable tax credit for all parents of newborns.

• S.1559 (Palumbo) – Enacting the “Affordable New York Act,” which is designed to lower the tax burden on individuals in New York State. Specifically, this legislation doubles the current School Tax Relief (STAR) exemption and lowers the income tax rate on middle-income taxpayers by 2%.

Press Release, Master Gardeners of Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension

KNOWLESVILLE – The Orleans Community Seed Share (OCSS), a program of the Master Gardeners at Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension, will be hosting their first annual Seed Swap this Saturday, March 22 from 1 to 4 p.m.

The OCSS is a new project for Master Gardeners, spearheaded by Master Gardener Julia Bender.  In addition to the Seed Swap this Saturday, the project includes a monthly education series dedicated to all topics in growing and saving seeds as well as the seed library housed in the Orleans County CCE office building.  Learn more about the project at the Orleans County CCE website (click here).

An example of some of the donated seed packets that will be available at the Seed Swap Saturday.

The Seed Swap this Saturday will be an informal way for community members in Orleans County to share their own seeds as well as take some new-to-them seeds home. The Swap is open to anyone, but in the true spirit of a “swap,” Master Gardeners request that if people are planning to take seeds home, they should try to bring some seeds to donate in exchange.

“I think the Seed Swap this Saturday is more about community – connecting in real time with your neighbors and friends, discussing different plants and what and how you like to garden,” explained Julia Bender, a Master Gardener volunteer, who was asked why people might choose to come to the Seed Swap instead of just utilizing the Seed Share library on their own time,  “It’s also an opportunity to chat with Master Gardeners, learn more about the classes we offer, ask questions, etc.”

Donated seeds can include hand harvested seeds from residents’ own gardens or purchased seed that they are not planning to use. There is no charge for the Seed Swap, and it is an open event- people can come and go at any time within the 1-4pm timeframe.

“The Seed Swap is about sharing the heritage of our community’s gardens and taking home the promise of tomorrow’s harvest,” summarized Bender, who started the project in memory of her mother, Sally Bender.

This first Seed Swap will be held this Saturday, March 22 from 1 p.m to 4 p.m. in the “Buzz Hill” Education Center at the Orleans County CCE Office. Please contact Katie Oakes, Horticulture Educator and Master Gardener Coordinator,  at klo54@cornell.edu or 585-798-4265, ext. 125 with any questions.

Press Release, Congresswoman Claudia Tenney

Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) today, alongside Congresswoman Terri Sewell (AL-7), introduced the Protecting Access to Ground Ambulance Medical Services Act to ensure that rural and remote communities maintain access to critical emergency services.

This legislation aims to provide adequate Medicare reimbursement for emergency service providers, helping them hire and retain EMT staff and modernize their equipment to continue delivering lifesaving care.

“Access to emergency services is critical in rural areas across the country, including NY-24, which spans 14 counties,” Tenney said. “However, lifesaving ambulance transports are often costly, placing a burden on patients and providers alike. The Protecting Access to Ground Ambulance Medical Services Act will help reduce these costs while ensuring that emergency care providers can continue delivering vital medical services to rural communities nationwide.”

Additional cosponsors of the legislation include Representatives Carol Miller (WV-1), Cliff Bentz (OR-2), Mike Carey (OH-15), Paul Tonko (NY-20), and Marie Gluesenkemp-Perez (WA-3).

“When medical emergencies happen, we should feel confident that our first responders have the resources they need to deliver life-saving care,” said Congresswoman Sewell. “Unfortunately, inadequate Medicare reimbursement rates are putting a strain on ambulance service providers in the most vulnerable communities. The problem is particularly severe for rural communities like the ones I represent. This bill would adjust Medicare reimbursement practices so that vital ambulance services are available and accessible to all Americans.”