AMBULANCE SERVICE WITH THE CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL. CONGRESSWOMAN SUMMER LEE ANNOUNCED THAT SHE IS CO-SPONSORING A BILL TO HONOR THE FREEDOM HOUSE AMBULANCE SERVICE WITH THE CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL. BLACK HISTORY WILL ALWAYS BE AMERICAN HISTORY. FREEDOM HOUSE AMBULANCE SERVICE SAVED COUNTLESS LIVES IN PITTSBURGH’S MOST UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES, AND THEIR INNOVATIONS HAVE GONE ON TO SAVE COUNTLESS LIVES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. AND SO, AWARDING A CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL IS THE BARE MINIMUM. SURVIVING MEMBERS OF THE FREEDOM HOUSE AMBULANCE SERVICE LISTENED TO CONGRESSWOMAN LEE MAKE THE FORMAL ANNOUNCEMENT. FREEDOM HOUSE STARTED IN 1967 AS THE FIRST AMBULANCE SERVICE ANYWHERE TO PROVIDE ADVANCED MEDICAL CARE TO PATIENTS WHILE IN TRANSPORT TO HOSPITALS. THAT INCLUDES THE INNOVATIVE USE OF TOURNIQUETS. EMPLOYING RESUSCITATION AND TREATING RESPIRATORY DISTRESS. THERE WERE AN ALL BLACK TEAM OF PARAMEDICS THAT SERVICED THE HILL DISTRICT’S BLACK COMMUNITY, BUT THEIR ADVANCED SKILLS IN MEDICAL CARE BECAME THE BENCHMARK AND GOLD STANDARD FOR EMS SERVICE NATIONALLY AND GLOBALLY. THEY WERE FROM THE POOREST, BLACKEST AREAS OF PITTSBURGH, AND THEY WERE DEEMED UNEMPLOYABLE. THIS ORGANIZATION HAS BEEN DORMANT. THE HISTORY OF IT FOR WELL OVER 50 PLUS YEARS. SO THIS IS A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY TO BRING THAT PART OF HISTORY BACK INTO THE FOREFRONT WHERE IT BELONGS. ALSO TONIGHT, CONGRESSWOMAN LEE SAYS THE BILL IS RECEIVING BIPARTISAN SUPPORT, EVEN CO-SPONSORED BY PENNSYLVANIA REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN MIKE KELLY.
Bill to honor Freedom House Ambulance Service with Congressional Gold Medal announced by US Rep. Summer Lee
Updated: 10:19 PM EST Feb 20, 2026
Surviving members of the legendary Freedom House Ambulance Service were part of the audience who listened to U.S. Rep. Summer Lee announce Friday that she is co-sponsoring a bill to honor their history and legacy.If the bill passes in Congress, with President Donald Trump’s endorsement, Freedom House Ambulance Service will be awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, one of the most esteemed civilian honors.Freedom House started in 1967 as the first ambulance service anywhere to provide advanced medical care to patients while in transport to hospitals, an all-Black unit that responded to calls in the Hill District’s Black community.Their advanced skills in medical care became the benchmark and gold standard for EMS service nationally and globally.”This organization has been dormant, the history of it, for over 50-plus years, so this is a golden opportunity to bring that part of history back to the forefront where it belongs,” said George Moon, who served as chief of the unit.Lee, D-Swissvale, said the bill has bipartisan support in Congress, but still must make it out of committee and onto the floor for a vote in the House before a vote in the Senate.”Black history will always be American history,” Lee said. “Freedom House Ambulance Service saved countless lives in Pittsburgh’s most underserved communities. Their innovations have gone on to save countless lives across the country, so awarding the Congressional Gold Medal is the bare minimum.”
PITTSBURGH —
Surviving members of the legendary Freedom House Ambulance Service were part of the audience who listened to U.S. Rep. Summer Lee announce Friday that she is co-sponsoring a bill to honor their history and legacy.
If the bill passes in Congress, with President Donald Trump’s endorsement, Freedom House Ambulance Service will be awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, one of the most esteemed civilian honors.
Freedom House started in 1967 as the first ambulance service anywhere to provide advanced medical care to patients while in transport to hospitals, an all-Black unit that responded to calls in the Hill District’s Black community.
Their advanced skills in medical care became the benchmark and gold standard for EMS service nationally and globally.
“This organization has been dormant, the history of it, for over 50-plus years, so this is a golden opportunity to bring that part of history back to the forefront where it belongs,” said George Moon, who served as chief of the unit.
Lee, D-Swissvale, said the bill has bipartisan support in Congress, but still must make it out of committee and onto the floor for a vote in the House before a vote in the Senate.
“Black history will always be American history,” Lee said. “Freedom House Ambulance Service saved countless lives in Pittsburgh’s most underserved communities. Their innovations have gone on to save countless lives across the country, so awarding the Congressional Gold Medal is the bare minimum.”