[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 142 (Tuesday, October 21, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2035-E2036]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                IMMIGRANT ADOPTIVE CHILDREN IMMUNIZATION

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BILL McCOLLUM

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 21, 1997

  Mr. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend Chairman Lamar 
Smith for committing his time and effort to swift passage of H.R. 2464. 
Chairman Smith played a vital role in responding to the concerns of 
adoptive parents and moving H.R. 2464 through the committee process. I 
would also like to thank my colleague, Rep. Delahunt, for his active 
interest in this issue and for his support of this legislation.

[[Page E2036]]

  One of our Nation's resounding successes is our vaccination policy. 
By age 6, almost 95 percent of children in the United States have 
received their recommended vaccinations. It is no less than amazing 
that we have been able to curtail such childhood diseases as polio, 
mumps, whopping cough and diphtheria--diseases which once killed 
hundreds of thousands in the United States.
  But, if we are to continue to protect our children from such deadly 
diseases, we cannot let our guard down. Many may remember the 1990 U.S. 
measles outbreak which killed 89 people. Measles is a prime example of 
a disease that is completely vaccine preventable which continues to 
hospitalize and kill people in the United States. In fact, it is 
estimated that over a million people die worldwide from measles every 
year, with tens of millions of cases reported.
  We simply cannot become lackadaisical about vaccinating against 
diseases, such as measles, which remains a potent killer in the rest of 
the world. That is why I authored a provision in last year's Illegal 
Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act to require incoming 
immigrants to receive certain immunizations before entering the United 
States. That provision took effect as of July 1, 1997.
  Soon thereafter, I heard from numerous parents of internationally 
adopted children that the foreign immunization requirement posed a 
unique risk for young orphans adopted from abroad.
  After carefully reviewing their concerns, and taking into 
consideration the fact that these adoptive parents are not familiar 
with the foreign medical community or with the medical histories of 
these young orphaned children, I introduced H.R. 2464 to exempt 
internationally adopted children under age 11 from the immigration 
vaccination requirement.
  In addition, these adoptive parents will sign an affidavit stating 
that they will have their adopted children immunized within 30 days of 
entering the country or as soon as medically appropriate. This 
affidavit will primarily serve to remind parents of the vital 
importance of having their children immunized once they arrive in the 
United States. Since most children in the United States receive their 
vaccinations by age 6, it is essential that these adopted children 
receive their vaccinations as soon as possible and I am confident that 
these American parents will responsibly honor the affidavit.
  Mr. Speaker, I am hopeful that enactment of H.R. 2464 will serve the 
dual purpose of protecting internationally adopted children from 
foreign vaccination risks while ensuring that these children receive 
vaccinations once in the United States. I urge all my colleagues to 
support H.R. 2464.

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