Department of Veterans Affairs Creation of On-Site Treatment Systems Affording Veterans Improvements and Numerous General Safety Enhancements Act
Floor Speech
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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.
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Mr. BOST. 753, as amended.
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.
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Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I encourage all Members to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
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Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
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