DeGette and Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Poison Control Bill to Combat the Opioid Epidemic

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Diana DeGette (D-CO) and several of her colleagues on the House Energy and Commerce Committee have introduced a bipartisan bill strengthening the role of poison control centers, which are key to addressing the effects of the nation's opioid epidemic.

"Poison control centers are at the forefront of fighting the opioid epidemic since they are often the first place people call in case of an overdose," DeGette said. "It makes sense to give them more and better resources to do their vital work, including raising public awareness and improving communications. I'm convinced that this bipartisan bill will save lives."

Together with Reps. Susan W. Brooks (R-IN), Eliot Engel (D-NY) and Joe Barton (R-TX), DeGette this week introduced the Poison Center Network Enhancement Act (H.R. 5329), which clarifies that poison control centers can be called upon to assist with public health emergencies, responses, and preparedness; requests that enhanced communications capabilities like texting be established; requests that the Federal Communications Commission work with the Department of Health and Human Services to ensure calls to its toll-free number are properly routed; and directs HHS to implement call-routing based on the caller's actual location to ensure timely responses.

The Health Subcommittee, on which DeGette serves, today concluded a two-day hearing focused on combating the opioid crisis with prevention and public health solutions. The hearing included a review of H.R. 5329.