Media

Congressman Jim Baird (R-IN) today participated in a press conference with the Bipartisan Opioid Task Force to highlight his VA DROP Act (H.R. 4817). The legislation would direct the Secretary of the Veteran’s Administration to ensure that certain Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities have physical locations for the disposal of controlled substance medications. This would provide some Hoosier common-sense in the fight against the opioid epidemic and give veterans a safe, secure, and continuously available way to dispose of unwanted or unused opioids.

“Far too often I hear stories of veterans with bags of excess medication they no longer need or want, and I hope this legislation can provide them with a means to conveniently dispose of opioids,” said Congressman Baird.

The VA DROP Act ensures covered VA medical facilities, with an on-site pharmacy or with a law enforcement officer present to monitor the disposal location, will be charged with having a physical location for disposal of these medications. To view full bill text, please click here.

You can watch the entire press conference here.

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Congressman Jim Baird represents Indiana’s 4th Congressional District. A lifelong Hoosier, he serves as a member of the House Committee on Agriculture and the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.