[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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