[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 43 (Tuesday, March 7, 2023)]
[House]
[Pages H1125-H1126]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS CREATION OF ON-SITE TREATMENT SYSTEMS 
      AFFORDING VETERANS IMPROVEMENTS AND NUMEROUS GENERAL SAFETY 
                            ENHANCEMENTS ACT

  Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 753) to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to use on-site 
regulated medical waste treatment systems at certain Department of 
Veterans Affairs facilities, and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                H.R. 753

       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 ``Department of Veterans 
     Affairs Creation of On-Site Treatment Systems Affording 
     Veterans Improvements and Numerous General Safety 
     Enhancements Act'' or the ``VA COST SAVINGS Enhancements 
     Act''.

     SEC. 2. USE OF ON-SITE REGULATED MEDICAL WASTE TREATMENT 
                   SYSTEMS AT DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 
                   FACILITIES.

       (a) Identification of Facilities.--The Secretary of 
     Veterans Affairs shall identify Department of Veterans 
     Affairs facilities that would benefit from cost savings 
     associated with the use of an on-site regulated medical waste 
     treatment system over a five-year period.
       (b) Regulated Medical Waste Cost Analysis Model.--For 
     purposes of carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary shall 
     develop a uniform regulated medical waste cost analysis model 
     to be used to determine the cost savings associated with the 
     use of an on-site regulated medical waste treatment system at 
     Department facilities. Such model shall be designed to 
     calculate savings based on--
       (1) the cost of treating regulated medical waste at an off-
     site location under a contract with a non-Department entity; 
     compared to
       (2) the cost of treating regulated medical waste on-site, 
     based on the equipment specification of treatment system 
     manufacturers, with capital costs amortized over a ten-year 
     period.
       (c) Installation.--At each Department facility identified 
     under subsection (a), the Secretary shall secure, install, 
     and operate an on-site regulated medical waste treatment 
     system.
       (d) Regulated Medical Waste Defined.--In this section, the 
     term ``regulated medical waste'' has the meaning given such 
     term under section 173.134(a)(5) of title 49, Code of Federal 
     Regulations, concerning regulated medical waste and 
     infectious substances, or any successor regulation, except 
     that, in the case of an applicable State law that is more 
     expansive, the definition in the State law shall apply.

     SEC. 3. NO ADDITIONAL FUNDS AUTHORIZED.

       No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated to 
     carry out the requirements of this Act.

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


                             General Leave

  Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 
5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 
753, as amended.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Illinois?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 753, as 
amended, the VA COST SAVINGS Enhancements Act. I am proud to 
reintroduce this bill this Congress.
  This bill will require the VA to conduct a medical waste cost 
analysis at VA medical centers nationwide. This would identify VA 
facilities where it would be more cost-effective to install waste 
incinerators on-site rather than contracting a third party to ship 
medical waste to be destroyed off-site.
  Only around 20 percent of our VA facilities have a medical waste 
system installed. My bill would change that. In return, it will save VA 
tens of millions of dollars annually.
  By supporting my bill, we would create a safer and cleaner 
environment at our VA hospitals. We would also be better stewards of 
taxpayers' dollars without diminishing services to our veterans.
  Our Nation's veterans deserve the safest medical practices, and 
nothing, including waste management, should fall short of that. This 
bill is a win-win.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to join me today in support 
of H.R. 753, as amended, and I reserve the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1715

  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 753, as amended, the VA COST 
SAVINGS Enhancements Act. This bill will require the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs to develop an analytical model to compare the costs of 
off-site versus on-site regulated medical waste treatment.
  The VA will further be required to install on-site regulated medical 
waste treatment systems at VA facilities that would realize cost 
savings within a 5-year period.
  Regulated medical waste is any type of waste generated by healthcare 
facilities that may be contaminated by blood, bodily fluids, or other 
potentially infectious materials. There are Federal and State 
requirements governing how it must be handled and how it may be 
transported given the infection transmission risks it poses.
  On-site regulated medical waste sterilization systems would enable VA 
medical facilities to treat and compact this waste before it is 
transported off-site for disposal. There are potential cost savings 
associated with being able to sterilize and compact medical waste 
before it is taken off-site.
  Trucking costs are higher for untreated medical waste because of all 
the precautions that must be taken to comply with applicable State and 
Federal regulations when transporting it, and because it takes more 
trucks to move the waste if it is not compacted first.
  Mr. Speaker, in closing, I urge my colleagues to join me in 
supporting H.R. 753, as amended, and I yield back the balance of my 
time.

[[Page H1126]]

  

  Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I encourage all Members to support this 
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 Illinois (Mr. Bost) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, H.R. 753, as amended.
  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. BOST. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.

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