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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.
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.
____________________
SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 130
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