September 26, 2024
STATE SENATOR SAUD ANWAR NAMED EMS ADVISORY BOARD LEGISLATOR OF THE YEAR
The Connecticut EMS Advisory Board Council of Regional Presidents announced this week that State Senator Saud Anwar (D-South Windsor) was awarded its Legislator of the Year award, recognizing his support for emergency medical services in the state of Connecticut. The awards were announced prior to their official presentation scheduled for Thursday, October 24 at the EMSPRO/FIREPRO Conference at Foxwoods Resort Casino.
“Our emergency medical services personnel perform incredible, lifesaving tasks every day, weathering challenges in the name of protecting the people of our state,” said Sen. Anwar. “I have been a strong advocate to ensure they receive the support they deserve in turn and am honored to receive this recognition. I will continue working with my colleagues however possible to bring them the security, safety and resources they need to continue helping save lives in Connecticut.”
For years, Sen. Anwar has worked with state EMS officials to advocate for better resources and services for them. He has fought for improved reimbursement rates for ambulance services, higher wages for staff members, preventing “EMS deserts” where only volunteer services are available for care and for the state to better match its aging demographics which will impact requirements and quality of care in years to come. He has also recognized the strain that the COVID-19 pandemic put on health and emergency services and increased issues workers have faced on the job accordingly.
Sen. Anwar has been a leader in seeking improvements to Medicaid ambulance rates, improving recruitment, reimbursement and retention for EMT staffers and increases in pay for workers. Earlier this year, he fought against a planned elimination of planned funding increases for emergency transportation responder staff. He has also voted in support of policies aiding EMS personnel including expanding workers’ compensation benefits for post-traumatic stress injury to include their ranks.
Sen. Anwar is only the fifth recipient of this award, following State Senator Julie Kushner in 2021, State Representative Jonathan Steinberg in 2019, State Representative J.P. Stredzinski in 2016 and State Representative Jason Perillo in 2014.
To see the full list of recipients in this year’s CT EMS Awards, please click here. |
