[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1153 Introduced in House (IH)]
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1153
To prohibit Federal funding or other assistance for mandatory human
papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programs.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 16, 2007
Mr. Gingrey (for himself, Mr. Pitts, Mr. Carter, Mr. Goode, Mrs.
Myrick, Mr. Lamborn, Mr. Garrett of New Jersey, Mr. Boozman, Mr. Weldon
of Florida, Mr. Kingston, Mr. Aderholt, Mrs. Blackburn, Mr. Barrett of
South Carolina, Mr. Pearce, Mr. Hoekstra, Mr. Paul, Mr. Akin, Mr. Sam
Johnson of Texas, Mr. Souder, Mr. McCotter, Mrs. Musgrave, Mr.
Sensenbrenner, Mr. Pence, Mr. Sali, Mr. Manzullo, Mr. Westmoreland, Mr.
Fortenberry, and Mr. Jordan of Ohio) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To prohibit Federal funding or other assistance for mandatory human
papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programs.
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 ``Parental Right to Decide Protection
Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds as follows:
(1) HPV, the human papillomavirus, is the most common
sexually transmitted infection in the United States. HPV types
16 and 18 cause about 70 percent of cervical cancers. The
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that about
6,200,000 Americans become infected with HPV each year and that
over half of all sexually active men and women become infected
at some time in their lives. On average, there are 9,710 new
cases of cervical cancer and 3,700 deaths attributed to it in
the United States each year.
(2) Early detection is the key to diagnosing and curing
cervical cancer, and therefore the Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) recommends that all women get regular Pap tests. The Pap
test looks for cell changes caused by HPV, so the cervix can be
treated before the cells turn into cancer. The FDA also states
the Pap test can also find cancer in its early stages so it can
be treated before it becomes too serious, and reaches the
conclusion that it is rare to die from cervical cancer if the
disease is caught early.
(3) On June 8, 2006, the FDA approved Gardasil, the first
vaccine developed to prevent cervical cancer, precancerous
genital lesions, and genital warts due to human papillomavirus
(HPV) types 6, 11, 16, and 18. Gardasil is a recombinant
vaccine, it does not contain a live virus, and it is given as
three injections over a six-month period. The vaccine is
approved for use in females 9-26 years of age. However, the FDA
also states that since the vaccine is new, more studies need to
be done to determine how long women will be protected from HPV.
For example, the FDA does not know if a booster is needed after
a couple of years to ensure continuity of protection.
(4) As detailed by the FDA, four studies were conducted in
21,000 women, one in the United States and three multinational,
to show how well Gardasil worked in women between the ages of
16 and 26. The study period was not long enough for cervical
cancer to develop; however, preventing cervical precancerous
lesions is believed highly likely to result in the prevention
of cervical cancer.
(5) In January 2007 the Advisory Committee on Immunization
Practices (ACIP), under the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, issued changes to the previous childhood and
adolescent immunization schedule. The ACIP recommends the new
human papillomavirus vaccine (HPV) to be administered in a 3-
dose schedule with the second and third doses administered 2
and 6 months after the first dose. Routine vaccination with HPV
is recommended for females aged 11-12 years, the vaccination
series can be started in females as young as age 9 years, and a
catch up vaccination is recommended for females aged 13-26
years who have not been vaccinated previously or who have not
completed the full vaccine series.
(6) States historically have maintained the practice of
applying immunization recommendations to their school
admittance policies so as to protect schoolchildren from
outbreaks of contagious disease. The Association of American
Physicians and Surgeons states that there is no public health
purpose for mandating HPV vaccine for schoolchildren. HPV is a
sexually transmitted disease.
(7) With at least 16 States entertaining legislation which
takes the unprecedented step in requiring young girls to obtain
a vaccine for a disease that is not spread by casual contact in
order to attend school, many organizations and associations
have come out against mandatory HPV vaccine programs.
(8) The Texas Medical Association has stated that although
it strongly supports the ability of physicians to provide the
HPV vaccine, at this point, it does not support a State
mandate.
(9) The American College of Pediatricians and the
Association of American Physicians and Surgeons are opposed to
any legislation which would require HPV vaccination for school
attendance. They have stated that excluding children from
school for refusal to be vaccinated for a disease spread only
by intercourse is a serious, precedent-setting action that
trespasses on the right of parents to make medical decisions
for their children as well as on the rights of the children to
attend school.
(10) Federal funds should not be used to implement a
mandatory vaccine program for a disease that does not threaten
the public health of schoolchildren in the course of casual,
daily interaction between classmates and inserts the government
into the lives of children, parents, and physicians.
SEC. 3. PROHIBITION AGAINST FUNDING FOR MANDATORY HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS
(HPV) VACCINATION PROGRAMS.
No Federal funds or other assistance may be made available to any
State or political subdivision of a State to establish or implement any
requirement that individuals receive vaccination for human
papillomavirus (HPV).
<all>