Jeff Denham: “I thank the chairman and ranking member for their support of H.R. 5974, the VA COST SAVINGS Enhancements Act. This…”

“I thank the chairman and ranking member for their support of H.R. 5974, the VA COST SAVINGS Enhancements Act. This bipartisan bill improves care for our veterans. It also ensures that the VA is using the latest cost-saving technology. It directs the VA to install onsite medical waste treatment systems in facilities where this will result in a cost savings within 5 years. Systemwide, this will save the VA millions of dollars each year and directly improve safety and healthcare for our veterans. In addition to the significant cost savings, this technology is safer and increases crisis readiness. Safety is paramount when caring for our vets, and treating waste onsite prevents the spread of dangerous infections. Both the CDC and the World Health Organization recommend this technology, and this policy brings the VA in line with recommended practices for private medicine. Likewise, in the event of an earthquake or a wildfire, which we saw in California, transportation infrastructure can be compromised and prevent hazardous waste from being trucked to a disposal site or through a city. We need to make sure that this is handled onsite. In a disaster scenario like this, treating waste is critical to preventing an outbreak and keeping the facility actually up and running without huge backloads of the waste. Our veterans deserve the highest quality of care.…”