[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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