Executive Summary

The House passes a bill to authorize appropriations for water pollution control and asks the Environmental Protection Agency to convene a task force for keeping disposed pharmaceuticals and personal care products out of water systems. The task force - with members to include the EPA administrator and FDA commissioner or their designees - must also devise a strategy for educating the public on its recommendations. Rep. Candice Miller, R-Mich., said March 12 she offered H.R. 1262 as an amendment to the Water Quality Investment Act of 2009 because medical facilities lack uniform standards for disposing unused Rx and nonprescription medicine, often flushing them down toilets. The bill passed the House March 12 and is currently in the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works