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H.R. 304: Protecting Patient Access to Emergency Medications Act of 2017

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H.R. 304: Protecting Patient Access to Emergency Medications Act of 2017

115th Congress · introduced 2017-01-05 · Health · Latest: Signed by President.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2017-01-05 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Hudson, Richard [R-NC-8] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: 1 recorded vote in our records. Latest: House roll call 25 (2017): On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, HR304 (2017-01-09), Passed. See all
  4. Where it stands now: Signed by President. (final step reached)
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Protecting Patient Access to Emergency Medications Act of 2017

Plain summary

Protecting Patient Access to Emergency Medications Act of 2017 (Sec. 2) This bill amends the Controlled Substances Act to direct the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to register an emergency medical services (EMS) agency to administer controlled substances if the agency submits an application demonstrating that it is authorized to conduct such activity in the state in which the agency practices. The DEA may deny an application if it determines that the registration is inconsistent with the public interest. An EMS agency may obtain a single registration in each state instead of a separate registration for each location. A registered EMS agency may deliver, store, and receive controlled substances, subject to specified conditions. An EMS professional of a registered EMS agency may administer controlled substances in schedules II, III, IV, or V outside the physical presence of a medical director if such administration is authorized under state law and pursuant to a standing or verbal order, subject to specified conditions. The bill specifies that a hospital-based EMS agency (i.e., an EMS agency owned or operated by a hospital) may continue to administer controlled substances under the hospital's DEA registration.

Congressional Research Service summary (Public Law), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Protecting Patient Access to Emergency Medications Act of 2017

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Public Law)

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The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Hudson, Richard [R-NC-8] · 25 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Ann Wagner (R-MO), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Janice D. Schakowsky (D-IL), Tom Emmer (R-MN), Gus M. Bilirakis (R-FL), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Raul Ruiz (D-CA), Robin L. Kelly (D-IL), Ken Calvert (R-CA), Chellie Pingree (D-ME)

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Hudson, Richard [R-NC-8] reported raising $4.2 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

Recorded votes

Words on this page, explained (2)
Authorization
A law that creates or continues a government program and says what it may do, often with a suggested spending ceiling. An authorization alone does not provide money; a separate appropriation does.
Bill
A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong115-hr304 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong115 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong115