Dispose of Unused Medications and Prescription Opioids Act

Floor Speech

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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).''.

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Mr. TAKANO. 957.

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.

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Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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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.

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