[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 144 (Tuesday, September 17, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H5303-H5304]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           POISON CONTROL CENTERS REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2024

  Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and pass the bill (S. 4351) to amend the Public Health Service Act to 
reauthorize certain poison control programs.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                S. 4351

       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 Control Centers 
     Reauthorization Act of 2024''.

     SEC. 2. REAUTHORIZATION OF POISON CONTROL PROGRAMS.

       (a) National Toll-Free Number and Other Communication 
     Capabilities.--Section 1271(c) of the Public Health Service 
     Act (42 U.S.C. 300d-71(c)) is amended by striking ``fiscal 
     years 2020 through 2024'' and inserting ``fiscal years 2025 
     through 2029''.
       (b) Promoting Poison Control Center Utilization.--Section 
     1272(c) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300d-
     72(c)) is amended by striking ``fiscal years 2020 through 
     2024'' and inserting ``fiscal years 2025 through 2029''.
       (c) Poison Control Center Grant Program.--Section 1273(g) 
     of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300d-73(g)) is 
     amended by striking ``fiscal years 2020 through 2024'' and 
     inserting ``fiscal years 2025 through 2029''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Washington (Mrs. Rodgers) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. 
Pallone) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Washington.


                             General Leave

  Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend 
their remarks and include extraneous material in the Record on the 
bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Washington?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as 
I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 4351, the Poison Control Centers 
Reauthorization Act of 2024. I thank Mrs. Chavez-DeRemer, the sponsor 
of H.R. 7251, the House bill passed unanimously by the Energy and 
Commerce Committee. We applaud her leadership on this important bill 
and on the reauthorization of this program.
  The Poison Control Network Program supports local poison centers to 
ensure that they can provide 24/7 access to specially trained 
providers, physicians, or toxicology experts, to provide guidance on 
possible poisoning and toxic exposures.
  This reauthorization will help continue to provide resources for the 
Poison Help Line, which is a toll-free number for people to access 
trained experts.

[[Page H5304]]

It also renews funding for a nationwide media campaign to spread 
awareness for the Poison Help Line and disseminate best practices for 
poison prevention.
  In fiscal year 2021, the most common poisonings reported were related 
to medications such as nonprescription fentanyl. This category is the 
most common poisoning that resulted in death for both adults and 
children.
  In fact, children under the age of 6 were involved in almost half of 
all calls to local poison centers.
  Poison centers play a critical role in helping to curb the rates of 
poisonings and toxic exposures. Reauthorizing this program will ensure 
local centers receive the resources they need to educate their 
communities and be available to help patients in need.
  Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 4351, the Poison Control Centers 
Reauthorization Act.
  Each year, there are over 2 million cases of people being exposed to 
poison in the United States. There are many substances implicated in 
poison exposures, from pain medications to cleaning substances to 
cosmetics and personal care products.
  The incidence of poison exposure is highest in children under the age 
of 6, but poisoning affects all age groups, from infants to seniors.
  This is why Congress funds poison control centers to serve all 50 
States and U.S. territories, as well as the National Poison Help Line 
that connects callers with the poison control center serving their 
area. These centers help with poison emergencies and provide 
information to prevent poisonings. They serve as critical lifelines 
that provide all Americans with expert advice 24/7, 365 days a year, at 
no cost.
  Over 70 percent of callers to poison control centers get the help 
they need over the phone and do not need to go to a hospital. Even 
healthcare professionals utilize poison control centers in emergencies.
  The Poison Control Centers Reauthorization Act will reauthorize 
poison control programs, including the National Poison Hotline, 
programs to raise awareness of poison control centers, and direct 
funding for those centers. These important programs are essential to 
getting people the help they need in poison emergencies.
  I thank Representatives Chavez-DeRemer, Davis, Joyce, and Cherfilus-
McCormick for their work on this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I encourage all of my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on S. 
4351, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the 
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Carter), a subcommittee chair on the Energy 
and Commerce Committee.
  Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of 
the Poison Control Centers Reauthorization Act of 2024.
  As my colleagues have pointed out, this legislation reauthorizes the 
national network of poison control centers. These centers are available 
24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to provide free and confidential 
assistance with emergencies and other information to help prevent 
poisoning.
  In fact, the Georgia Poison Center is a critical resource in Georgia, 
responding to over 80,000 calls last year alone. Poison control centers 
are also essential to combating the opioid and fentanyl crisis, because 
not only are these centers often the first resource people seek after 
an opioid overdose occurs, but they also collect real-time data to 
alert impacted communities about opioid abuse and misuse.
  With the rise of elicit fentanyl poisonings across the country, we 
must prioritize these centers and support them to protect our families 
and communities.
  Ensuring the reauthorization of these poison control centers will be 
another step in the right direction to combat the rise of illicit 
opioids that continues to plague our communities.
  I would like to commend my colleagues for their continued leadership 
on this bipartisan legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

                              {time}  2045

  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, obviously, it is important for us to 
reauthorize these poison control programs and the centers. I urge my 
colleagues to support this on a bipartisan basis, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I encourage a ``yes'' vote 
on this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Washington (Mrs. Rodgers) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, S. 4351.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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