WASHINGTON, DC - Energy and Commerce Committee Republican Leader Greg Walden (R-OR) and Subcommittee on Health Republican Leader Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX) issued the following statement after the House passed H.R. 501, the Poison Center Network Enhancement Act of 2019, by voice vote.
The bill, introduced by Reps. Eliot Engel (D-NY), Susan Brooks (R-IN), Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA), and Diana DeGette (D-CO), reauthorizes the national network of Poison Control Centers, which offer free, confidential, and expert medical advice 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Oftentimes these programs serve as the primary resource for poisoning information and help reduce emergency room visits through in-home treatment.
“The nation’s network of poison control centers help keep families safe by offering lifesaving assistance and helping prevent unnecessary poisoning deaths and injuries, including opioid overdoses," Walden and Burgess said. “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. We commend Rep. Brooks for her leadership on this bipartisan legislation, which will provide these vital centers with the tools they need in order to continue saving lives."
Background:
Last Congress, Rep. Brooks discussed the role of poison control centers in combating the opioid crisis as part of the committee’s video series. You can view that video here.
