[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 97 (Tuesday, June 12, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H5057-H5059]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
POISON CENTER NETWORK ENHANCEMENT ACT OF 2018
Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 5329) to amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize
and enhance the poison center national toll-free number, national media
campaign, and grant program, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 5329
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Poison Center Network
Enhancement Act of 2018''.
SEC. 2. REAUTHORIZATION OF POISON CONTROL CENTERS NATIONAL
TOLL-FREE NUMBER.
Section 1271 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C.
300d-71) is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 1271. ESTABLISHMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF THE NATIONAL
TOLL-FREE NUMBER AND ENHANCED COMMUNICATIONS
CAPABILITIES.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall provide coordination
and assistance to poison control centers for--
``(1) the development, establishment, implementation, and
maintenance of a nationwide toll-free phone number; and
``(2) the enhancement of communications capabilities, which
may include text capabilities.
``(b) Consultation.--The Secretary may consult with
nationally recognized professional organizations in the field
of poison control to determine the best and most effective
means of achieving the goals described in paragraphs (1) and
(2) of subsection (a).
``(c) Rule of Construction.--In assisting with public
health emergencies, responses, or preparedness, nothing in
this section shall be construed to restrict the work of
poison control centers or the use of their resources by the
Secretary or other governmental agencies.
``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to carry out this section $700,000 for
each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023.''.
SEC. 3. REAUTHORIZATION OF NATIONWIDE PUBLIC AWARENESS
CAMPAIGN TO PROMOTE POISON CONTROL CENTER
UTILIZATION.
Section 1272 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C.
300d-72) is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 1272. NATIONWIDE PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN TO PROMOTE
POISON CONTROL CENTER UTILIZATION AND THEIR
PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY RESPONSE CAPABILITIES.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall--
``(1) carry out, and expand upon, a national public
awareness campaign to educate the public and health care
providers about--
``(A) poisoning, toxic exposure, and drug misuse
prevention; and
``(B) the availability of poison control center resources
in local communities; and
``(2) as part of such campaign, highlight the nationwide
toll-free number and enhanced communications capabilities
supported under section 1271.
``(b) Consultation.--In carrying out and expanding upon the
national campaign under subsection (a), the Secretary may
consult with nationally recognized professional organizations
in the field of poison control response for the purpose of
determining the best and most effective methods for achieving
public awareness.
``(c) Contract With Entity.--The Secretary may carry out
subsection (a) by entering into contracts with one or more
public or private entities, including nationally recognized
professional organizations in the field of poison control and
national media firms, for the development and implementation
of the awareness campaign under subsection (a), which may
include--
``(1) the development and distribution of poisoning and
toxic exposure prevention, poison control center, and public
health emergency awareness and response materials;
``(2) television, radio, internet, and newspaper public
service announcements; and
``(3) other means and activities to provide for public and
professional awareness and education.
``(d) Evaluation.--The Secretary shall--
``(1) establish baseline measures and benchmarks to
quantitatively evaluate the impact of the nationwide public
awareness campaign carried out under this section; and
``(2) on a biennial basis, prepare and submit to the
appropriate committees of Congress an evaluation of the
nationwide public awareness campaign.
``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to carry out this section, $800,000 for
each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023.''.
SEC. 4. REAUTHORIZATION OF THE POISON CONTROL CENTER GRANT
PROGRAM.
Section 1273 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C.
300d-73) is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 1273. MAINTENANCE OF THE POISON CONTROL CENTER GRANT
PROGRAM.
``(a) Authorization of Program.--The Secretary shall award
grants to poison control centers accredited under subsection
(c) (or granted a waiver under subsection (d)) and nationally
recognized professional organizations in the field of poison
control for the purposes of--
``(1) preventing, and providing treatment recommendations
for, poisonings and toxic exposures including opioid and drug
misuse;
``(2) assisting with public health emergencies, responses,
and preparedness; and
``(3) complying with the operational requirements needed to
sustain the accreditation of the center under subsection (c).
``(b) Additional Uses of Funds.--In addition to the
purposes described in subsection (a), a poison center or
professional organization awarded a grant under such
subsection may also use amounts received under such grant--
``(1) to research, establish, implement, and evaluate best
practices in the United States for poisoning prevention,
poison control center outreach, opioid and drug misuse
information and response, and public health emergency,
response, and preparedness programs;
``(2) to research, develop, implement, revise, and
communicate standard patient management guidelines for
commonly encountered toxic exposures;
``(3) to improve national toxic exposure and opioid misuse
surveillance by enhancing cooperative activities between
poison control centers in the United States and the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention and other governmental
agencies;
``(4) to research, improve, and enhance the communications
and response capability and capacity of the Nation's network
of poison control centers to facilitate increased access to
the centers through the integration and modernization of the
current poison control centers communications and data
system, including enhancing the network's telephony,
internet, data, and social networking technologies;
``(5) to develop, support, and enhance technology and
capabilities of nationally recognized professional
organizations in the field of poison control to collect
national poisoning, toxic occurrence, and related public
health data;
``(6) to develop initiatives to foster the enhanced public
health utilization of national poison data collected by such
organizations;
[[Page H5058]]
``(7) to support and expand the toxicologic expertise
within poison control centers; and
``(8) to improve the capacity of poison control centers to
answer high volumes of contacts and internet communications,
and to sustain and enhance the poison control center's
network capability to respond during times of national crisis
or other public health emergencies.
``(c) Accreditation.--Except as provided in subsection (d),
the Secretary may award a grant to a poison control center
under subsection (a) only if--
``(1) the center has been accredited by a nationally
recognized professional organization in the field of poison
control, and the Secretary has approved the organization as
having in effect standards for accreditation that reasonably
provide for the protection of the public health with respect
to poisoning; or
``(2) the center has been accredited by a State government,
and the Secretary has approved the State government as having
in effect standards for accreditation that reasonably provide
for the protection of the public health with respect to
poisoning.
``(d) Waiver of Accreditation Requirements.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary may grant a waiver of the
accreditation requirements of subsection (c) with respect to
a nonaccredited poison control center that applies for a
grant under this section if such center can reasonably
demonstrate that the center will obtain such an accreditation
within a reasonable period of time as determined appropriate
by the Secretary.
``(2) Renewal.--The Secretary may renew a waiver under
paragraph (1).
``(3) Limitation.--The Secretary may not, after the date of
enactment of the Poison Control Network Enhancement Act of
2018, grant to a poison control center waivers or renewals
that total more than 5 years.
``(e) Supplement Not Supplant.--Amounts made available to a
poison control center under this section shall be used to
supplement and not supplant other Federal, State, or local
funds provided for such center.
``(f) Maintenance of Effort.--A poison control center, in
utilizing the proceeds of a grant under this section, shall
maintain the annual recurring expenditures of the center for
its activities at a level that is not less than 80 percent of
the average level of such recurring expenditures maintained
by the center for the preceding 3 fiscal years for which a
grant is received.
``(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to carry out this section, $28,600,000 for
each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023. The Secretary may
utilize an amount not to exceed 6 percent of the amount
appropriated pursuant to the preceding sentence for each
fiscal year for coordination, dissemination, technical
assistance, program evaluation, data activities, and other
program administration functions, which are determined by the
Secretary to be appropriate for carrying out the program
under this section.''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Oregon (Mr. Walden) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Oregon.
General Leave
Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and
to insert extraneous material into the Record on the bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Oregon?
There was no objection.
Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I support H.R. 5329, the Poison Center Network
Enhancement Act. This is legislation that will reauthorize the national
network of poison control centers.
{time} 1645
Poison control centers are on the front lines of the opioid crisis.
They offer free, confidential, expert medical advice 24 hours a day, 7
days a week. By reauthorizing this essential system resource, we will
help reduce visits to the emergency rooms and save countless lives.
I want to thank the leadership of Representative Susan Brooks and
Eliot Engel, my colleagues, along with Representatives Joe Barton and
Diana DeGette, who worked hard on this legislation to get it right and
get it to the floor in a bipartisan manner and, I would dare say, out
of committee in a unanimous vote.
Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman
from Indiana (Mrs. Brooks), a leader in this effort.
Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my
colleagues to pass H.R. 5329, the Poison Center Network Enhancement Act
of 2018, a bill that reauthorizes the national network of poison
control centers, as we have heard, that offers free, confidential,
expert medical advice 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
We heard during an Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee hearing
that this past summer the Georgia poison control center was the first
public health entity to detect and respond to a deadly opioid outbreak
where yellow pills were being sold, stamped with the brand Percocet
that, in fact, contained substances chemically similar to fentanyl.
Without calls to poison control centers to report this drug, these
pills could have gone undetected indefinitely.
Poison control centers are fielding almost 192 cases a day of opioid
abuse and misuse. In 1 month alone, there were 9,039 opioid exposures
related to poison control centers nationwide. They are essential in
combating the opioid crisis because these are the centers that compile
the data that can be used to discover hotspots for opioid abuse and
misuse and save lives.
I want to thank all my colleagues, especially Representative Engel,
Representative DeGette, and Representative Barton, who have been strong
voices, as well as Chairman Walden and Ranking Member Pallone, for
supporting this and so many other impactful bills.
On behalf, most importantly, of the 1,526 Hoosiers who have died of
an opioid overdose in 2016, I want to urge my colleagues to pass H.R.
5329.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5329, the Poison Center
Network Enhancement Act.
I want to thank Mr. Engel, the Democratic sponsor, for his
leadership.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5329, the Poison Center
Network Enhancement Act.
This legislation reauthorizes the Health Resources and Services
Administration's (HRSA) Poison Control Center program.
Poison control centers provide essential support to the public and
healthcare providers nationwide.
They assist with guiding the public to appropriate medical care and
advise physicians and other healthcare providers on the appropriate
medical management whenever an exposure to a poison has occurred.
There are over 70 Poison control centers in the U.S and U.S.
Territories and they serve a vital role in our emergency
infrastructure, operating 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
The centers handle calls concerning over 430,000 different
substances, but in recent years have seen a huge increase in calls
related to opioid exposure.
Receive nearly 200 consults per day on opioid related exposures
alone.
There is no doubt that Poison control centers play a role in fighting
the national opioid epidemic.
I support this legislation and continuation of the great work our
nation's Poison Control centers do.
I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman
from New York (Mr. Engel).
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from New Jersey for
yielding, and I rise in strong support of H.R. 5329, the Poison Center
Network Enhancement Act.
I remember when I was a little boy, my mother used to have a poison
control number that she taped to the medicine chest so that, if there
was ever a tragedy or a problem, we could call the number quickly. This
is obviously along those same lines. That is why it is so important for
the American people to have this.
I want to thank Congresswoman Susan Brooks. I coauthored the bill
with her. I want to thank her for her hard work. It reauthorizes, for
an additional 5 years, as the gentlewoman just said, the nationwide
network of poison control centers, which are playing a critical role in
the fight to end the opioid crisis.
Our country's 55 poison centers are staffed by trained toxicologists,
pharmacists, physicians, and nurses who are available 24 hours a day, 7
days a week, 365 days a year, to provide real-time, lifesaving
assistance via a national toll-free number, which is 1-800-222-1222.
In 2016, someone in this country called the poison center roughly
every 12 seconds. So it shows you that it is being utilized and it
saves lives. More than 90 percent of those calls were due to a poison
exposure in someone's home. More than half of all cases involved
children under the age of 12.
[[Page H5059]]
That is why speedy access to poison centers is such an invaluable
resource and so important, especially for parents.
Poison centers are also saving hundreds of millions in Federal
dollars by helping to avoid the unnecessary use of medical services and
shortening the amount of time a person spends in the hospital, if
hospitalization due to poisoning becomes necessary.
It is clear that these centers are a smart public health investment,
but they are also an integral part of our response to the opioid
epidemic.
Since 2011, poison centers have handled nearly 200 cases per day in
this country involving opioid misuse. Data from poison centers has
helped detect trends in the epidemic, and experts have helped educate
Americans about the crisis and ways they could potentially save the
lives of their loved ones.
The Upstate New York Poison Center, for instance, used the New York
State Fair to educate New Yorkers about proper use of naloxone, the
overdose reversal drug. This bill would make sure that activities like
this can continue.
Mr. Speaker, I had the privilege of coauthoring the last poison
center reauthorization signed into law in 2014, and I am pleased to
have worked on this important bill.
Again, I want to thank Congresswoman Brooks for partnering with me on
this legislation, as well as Congresswoman DeGette and Congressman
Barton for being original cosponsors. Let me also thank Chairman
Burgess, Ranking Member Green, Chairman Walden, and Ranking Member
Pallone for their assistance in bringing this bill to the floor today.
As I mentioned earlier, in Westchester County, part of which I
represent, 124 people died due to opioids in 2016. In the Bronx, part
of which I also represent, more New Yorkers died of overdoses than in
any other borough of the city of New York.
We must do more to end this epidemic, and I am proud to see this
legislation moving forward as part of that effort, again, in a
bipartisan manner. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers. I urge my
colleagues to support the bill, and I yield back the balance of my
time.
Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Speaker, this is more important bipartisan
legislation moving forward. I have no other speakers. I would encourage
passage of the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Walden) that the House suspend the rules and
pass the bill, H.R. 5329, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________