[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 130 (Monday, July 26, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H3883-H3884]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       DISPOSE OF UNUSED MEDICATIONS AND PRESCRIPTION OPIOIDS ACT

  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (S. 957) to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to ensure 
that certain medical facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs 
have physical locations for the disposal of controlled substances 
medications.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                 S. 957

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. DESIGNATION OF PERIODS DURING WHICH ANY INDIVIDUAL 
                   MAY DISPOSE OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES 
                   MEDICATIONS AT FACILITIES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF 
                   VETERANS AFFAIRS.

       Section 3009 of the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. 
     Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 
     (Public Law 116-315; 38 U.S.C. 8110 note) is amended--
       (1) by redesignating subsection (b) and (c) as subsections 
     (c) and (d), respectively; and
       (2) by inserting after subsection (a) the following new 
     subsection (b):
       ``(b) Designation of Periods for Any Individual to Dispose 
     of Medication.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall designate periods 
     during which any individual may dispose of controlled 
     substances medications at a covered Department medical 
     facility.
       ``(2) Public information campaigns.--The Secretary may 
     carry out public information campaigns regarding the periods 
     designated under paragraph (1).''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Takano) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Bost) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.


                             General Leave

  Mr. TAKANO. 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 on S. 957.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that we are bringing up to the floor 
Senator Kennedy's bill, S. 957, the DUMP Opioids Act. I also want to 
commend Congresswoman Miller-Meeks and Congressman Trone for their work 
in introducing a House companion to this legislation.
  We have all seen reports of a dramatic increase in accidental and 
intentional overdose deaths during the pandemic, both among veterans 
and nonveterans, in our communities. While addressing the factors that 
lead to substance misuse, we must also act immediately to lower access 
to controlled substances for those in distress.
  I applaud my colleagues for advancing this legislation as one piece 
in our lethal means safety approach to suicide and accidental death 
prevention.
  The Department of Veterans Affairs has been a leader in decreasing 
prescribing of opioids and in developing nonopioid forms of pain 
management. This is vitally important given what we know about the 
health risks that even prescription opioids pose for veterans and 
others in our Nation.
  At the same time, chronic pain is a challenging, significant, and 
ongoing concern for many veterans and there are times when opioids are 
appropriately prescribed and monitored. We need to make sure, however, 
that people have safe ways to dispose of opioid medications when they 
are either no longer needed or when they could be used unsafely in a 
home. This bill ensures that veterans and members of the public may 
safely dispose of unused controlled substances in special repositories 
on VA properties on days specifically designated by VA as public take-
back days.
  The Secretary of the VA has the authority to set appropriate 
guidelines for safe disposal by members of the public.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting the DUMP 
Opioids Act, and I reserve the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1715

  Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 957, the Dispose of Unused 
Medications and Prescription Opioids Act, or the DUMP Opioids Act.
  Last year, Congress passed legislation that would allow veterans to 
dispose of excess prescription medications at VA medical facilities. 
The DUMP Opioids Act would allow nonveterans to do the same thing. It 
would also authorize a VA education campaign to make veterans and 
nonveterans alike aware of their ability to dispose of leftover 
medication at the VA.
  This bill is sponsored in the Senate by Senator Kennedy and in the 
House by Congresswoman Miller-Meeks. I am grateful to both of them for 
their leadership and advocacy on this important issue.
  Earlier this month, CDC released data showing that opioid overdose 
deaths surged throughout the pandemic. In 2020, more than 93,000 
Americans died of an overdose. This is an almost 30 percent increase 
from 2019.
  We have to do everything we can to help those suffering from 
substance abuse disorder to overcome their addiction. One way we can do 
this is by making controlled substances less readily available. By 
making it easier for unused opioids and other prescription medication 
to be disposed of, this bill would help do that.
  I hope that every Member will join me in supporting the DUMP Opioids 
Act.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

[[Page H3884]]

  

  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I reserve 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Iowa 
(Mrs. Miller-Meeks), my good friend.
  Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for yielding me 
time to speak.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in support of Senator John 
Kennedy's Dispose of Unused Medications and Prescription Opioids Act, 
S. 957, or the DUMP Opioids Act.
  Earlier this year, President Trump signed the Johnny Isakson and 
David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act 
into law. Under this law, the VA is required to set up prescription 
drop boxes on VA campuses so that veterans can safely dispose of unused 
and excess controlled substance medications. The DUMP Opioids Act 
directs the Secretary of the VA to designate periods during which 
anyone, not just veterans, may dispose of unused medications at VA 
facilities.
  In April, I partnered with Congressman   David Trone to introduce the 
House companion to Senator Kennedy's bill, and I am proud to see this 
bill before the House today.
  As a doctor, I have seen firsthand the challenges created by opioid 
addiction and abuse. The opioid epidemic has hit every corner of the 
United States, and all of us know someone who has been harmed by 
addiction.
  The DUMP Opioids Act is a simple expansion of current law that will 
give more Americans access to safe opioid disposal sites. Congress must 
work in a bipartisan manner and give our constituents the tools they 
need to tackle this head-on.
  America has been hit hard by the opioid epidemic for years, 
especially over this past year during the pandemic, as illustrated by 
my colleague from Illinois. Iowa is no exception.
  With opioid-related deaths up 35 percent in Iowa over the last year, 
we need to be more focused than ever on our efforts to both treat and 
prevent addiction. As a physician, I am proud to do my part to help 
combat this crisis.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank Senator Kennedy for his work with this bill, and 
I urge all of my colleagues to support S. 957, the DUMP Opioids Act.
  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues to join me in 
passing S. 957, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill 
as well, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Takano) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, S. 957.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution 
8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
  Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion 
are postponed.

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