[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2543 Introduced in House (IH)]







106th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2543

  To make the Department of Defense anthrax vaccination immunization 
         program voluntary for all members of the Armed Forces.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 16, 1999

 Mr. Jones of North Carolina introduced the following bill; which was 
              referred to the Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To make the Department of Defense anthrax vaccination immunization 
         program voluntary for all members of the Armed Forces.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``American Military Health Protection 
Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) All branches of the Armed Forces are faced with severe 
        challenges in recruiting and retaining quality military 
        personnel.
            (2) Time and again military personnel are asked to place 
        their lives on the line and to ultimately sacrifice themselves 
        and their families in defense of the United States.
            (3) The Department of Defense has initiated an anthrax 
        vaccination program, which a rapidly growing number of military 
        personnel believe may jeopardize their long-term health and 
        safety as well as that of their families.
            (4) The lack of a single, conclusive independent study 
        regarding the long-term health effects of the anthrax vaccine 
        on humans has created additional concerns among military 
        personnel.
            (5) Despite assurances by the Secretary of Defense of 
        minimal adverse reactions to the anthrax vaccine, the standards 
        which the Secretary uses to determine adverse reactions are 
        insufficient to support such claims.
            (6) As a result of the lack of conclusive data on the long-
        term effects of the anthrax vaccine, many military personnel 
        are being forced to make decisions between the safety and 
        security of their families and their dedication and commitment 
        to serving the United States.

SEC. 3. REQUIREMENT TO MAKE THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE ANTHRAX 
              VACCINATION IMMUNIZATION PROGRAM VOLUNTARY FOR ALL 
              MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES.

    The Secretary of Defense shall require that the anthrax vaccination 
immunization program be voluntary for all members of the Armed Forces 
until--
            (1) the Food and Drug Administration has approved a new 
        anthrax vaccine for humans; or
            (2) the Food and Drug Administration has approved a new, 
        reduced course of shots for the anthrax vaccine for humans.
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