Zinke, Tokuda Launch Congressional Air Medical Caucus

Washington, D.C. – Today, Representatives Ryan Zinke (R-MT-01) and Jill Tokuda (D-HI-02) formally launched the bipartisan Congressional Air Medical Caucus during an official kick-off event at the Cannon House Office Building, bringing together Members of Congress, industry leaders, and medical professionals to elevate awareness of the essential role air medical services play in America’s emergency care system.

View photos from the event here.  

The caucus will educate lawmakers on the operational, clinical, and policy framework that sustains air medical services nationwide. Air ambulances serve as fully equipped mobile intensive care units, transporting critically ill and injured patients from accident scenes and rural hospitals to trauma centers, stroke centers, burn units, and other specialty facilities. In many rural and geographically isolated areas, air medical transport is the only viable option for timely access to advanced care. 

For states like Montana and Hawaiʻi, where patients can be separated from specialty care by hundreds of miles of terrain or open ocean, air medical services are a core component of healthcare infrastructure. Nationally, air ambulance providers operate hundreds of bases and respond to emergencies 24 hours a day, seven days a week, supporting disaster response, interfacility transfers, and lifesaving trauma missions. 

The Congressional Air Medical Caucus will focus on promoting patient access, advancing safety and clinical excellence, supporting the highly trained workforce required for round-the-clock readiness, and ensuring federal policies reflect the operational realities of air medical providers. The caucus has bipartisan and bicameral support and is endorsed by the Association of Air Medical Services (AAMS).

“Air medical transport is often the difference between life and death in rural America,” said Rep. Zinke. “In a state like Montana, where distance and weather are constant challenges, we depend on these crews to deliver critical care when every second counts. Working with Rep. Tokuda, this caucus will ensure Congress understands their mission and works to protect it." 

“Air medical services are a lifeline for Hawaiʻi families and rural communities where emergencies are measured in minutes. They can mean the difference between life and death,” said Rep. Tokuda. “That’s why I am proud to join Rep. Zinke in co-leading this bipartisan effort to support the infrastructure and specialized teams providing air medical services to those most in need. Our goal is to ensure every person has access to life-saving care, regardless of where they live.” 

The Congressional Air Medical Caucus has bipartisan support and is endorsed by the Association of Air Medical Services (AAMS).

“The launch of the Congressional Air Medical Caucus is a meaningful step forward for patients and the professionals who care for them when minutes matter most,” said Jana Williams, President and CEO of AAMS. “Policymakers are increasingly recognizing the critical role air medical services play in protecting 24/7 access to healthcare, especially in rural communities. AAMS looks forward to working with the caucus to ensure policy decisions are informed by frontline expertise and centered on patient outcomes.”

Leaders from across the air medical industry also voiced strong support

“As the nation's largest not-for-profit air medical operator, serving patients across multiple states, including Hawaii and Montana, we see every day how critical air ambulance services are when minutes matter. I would like to thank Representatives Tokuda and Zinke for their leadership in establishing a caucus dedicated to understanding and strengthening this vital component of emergency care.” - Ben Clayton, CEO, Life Flight Network

“The formation of the Congressional Air Medical Caucus represents an important step in elevating the national dialogue around access, safety, and sustainability in air medical services. For communities across Alaska and Washington state—particularly in rural, remote, and island regions—air medical transport is a vital link to advanced, lifesaving care when time is critical. At UW Medicine, we see firsthand how policy stability, adequate reimbursement, and thoughtful regulation directly impact patient outcomes, operational readiness, and the ability to sustain this essential service. We look forward to partnering with members of Congress to support policies that protect access, strengthen emergency medical infrastructure, and ensure the long-term sustainability of high-quality air medical services for patients and communities across our state." - Jeff Richey Chief Air Medical Officer Airlift Northwest UW Medicine

“We thank Representatives Zinke (R-MT) and Tokuda (D-HI) for their bipartisan leadership in launching the Congressional Air Ambulance Caucus. In communities all across the country – and especially in areas where medical facilities may be far away – air medical service is a lifeline that delivers access to critical care across vast distances, when every second matters. We look forward to working with the caucus on protecting access in Montana, Hawaii, and every state in the country.”- Rob Hamilton, CEO of Air Methods

“Global Medical Response commends Representatives Zinke and Tokuda for their leadership in forming the Air Medical Caucus. Operating out of 400 air base locations nationwide, GMR’s pilots, flight nurses, medics, and mechanics work together to support emergency medical transport, disaster response, and critical care missions in all 50 states. GMR stands ready to work with caucus members to ensure a policy environment that supports the dedicated air ambulance professionals who are always ready to respond at a moment’s notice.” - Kimberly Montgomery, President – GMR Health Systems

“Life Link III represents our consortium of nine health systems united by a common mission: extending clinical expertise and critical care resources beyond hospital walls, with care that begins at the patient’s side and continues throughout the transport. The formation of the Congressional Air Medical Caucus provides a dedicated voice in Congress for an industry that is essential to the healthcare continuum. We are grateful to AAMS and caucus co-chairs Representatives Tokuda and Zinke for their leadership, and we look forward to working together to ensure federal policy reflects the critical role air medical services play in preserving access to care for communities across this country.” - Kolby Kolbet, Chief Innovation Officer, Life Link III

“When serious injury or illness occurs, air ambulance specialized treatment and transport directly impact survival. Programs like STAT MedEvac serve as vital extensions of the healthcare system, ensuring that patients—especially those in rural communities—are connected swiftly to life changing medicine. We appreciate Representatives Tokuda and Zinke’s leadership in launching the Congressional Air Medical Caucus and look forward to working with members to help ensure these services remain available to the patients and communities who depend on them.” - Jim Houser, President/CEO UPMC Center for Emergency Medicine/STAT MedEvac

“I applaud Representatives Ryan Zinke and Jill Tokuda for launching the Air Medical Caucus because air medical transport is not a luxury, it is a lifeline. When seconds matter, a patient’s chance at survival should never be determined by geography or ZIP code.”- Michael Perkins, COO, MedFlight of Ohio | MedCare, AAMS Board Member

Background

Congressman Zinke has long led efforts to protect access to air ambulance services for veterans and rural communities. In 2024, following sustained oversight and legislative action by Zinke, the Department of Veterans Affairs delayed implementation of a proposed rule that would have drastically reduced reimbursement rates for air and ground ambulance services.

The VA’s proposed cuts, based on decades-old market data, would have reduced reimbursement rates by as much as 90 percent, threatening the financial viability of providers and putting rural veterans at risk of losing access to lifesaving transport.

Through his role on the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee, leading oversight letters, introducing legislation and amendments, and pressing VA leadership directly, Zinke helped secure a delay of the rule’s implementation until 2029. The delay allows for updated market data and mitigates the severe impacts the original rule would have had on rural providers and veterans.

Congresswoman Tokuda represents Hawaiʻi’s Second Congressional District, where air travel is a critical lifeline for healthcare and essential services. As Co-Chair of the bipartisan Congressional Rural Health Caucus, she leads efforts to strengthen health systems for geographically isolated patients. Her legislative work includes the Essential Air Service Reliability Act of 2025, a bill designed to prevent service interruptions by requiring air carriers to maintain contingency plans for remote communities. 

The launch of the Congressional Air Medical Caucus builds on Reps. Zinke and Tokuda’s records to ensure sustained congressional focus on preserving and strengthening access to air medical services for communities across the country.

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