[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 60 (Tuesday, May 16, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H3151-H3152]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  HALT DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE ANTHRAX VACCINATION IMMUNIZATION PROGRAM

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Washington (Mr. Metcalf) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. METCALF. Mr. Speaker, I am here today to address an issue of 
critical importance to many Gulf War veterans across our country. Today 
I sent a letter to Secretary of Defense William Cohen asking for an 
immediate halt to the Department of Defense anthrax vaccination 
immunization program. I am grateful 34 of my colleagues have cosigned 
this letter. They share my deep concerns regarding this flawed defense 
policy and the urgent need to suspend the program until the Department 
of Defense obtains approval for use of an improved vaccine.
  The following developments in recent months confirm my concerns 
regarding this program and its impact on the health and morale of our 
military service members.
  The Institute of Medicine Committee on Health Effects Associated With 
Exposures During the Gulf War, in response to a Department of Defense 
request, provided a report which stated in summary: ``The committee 
concludes that in the peer-reviewed literature, there is inadequate/
insufficient evidence to determine whether an association does or does 
not exist between anthrax vaccination and long-term adverse health 
outcomes.''
  An internal legal memo written in March by two Air Force Reserve 
judge advocates addressed the following crucial question: Are orders 
currently being given to Members of the U.S. Armed Forces to submit to 
anthrax vaccinations consistent with Federal law? In summary, the 
response stated: ``Orders currently being given to Members of the 
United States Armed Forces to submit to anthrax vaccinations are 
illegal because they contradict the express terms of Presidential 
Executive Order 13139 and 10 U.S.C. Section 1107 of 1999.''
  On March 22, 2000, the Inspector General, Department of Defense, 
issued an audit report that documents troubling financial management 
practices and multiple deficiencies cited by FDA that continue to 
compromise the program.
  The House Subcommittee on National Security, Veterans Affairs and 
International Relations issued a report on February 17 that was 
approved and adopted by the full Committee on Government Reform. After 
a thorough review of the current relevant scientific data and 
compelling testimony, the subcommittee recommended: ``The force-wide 
mandatory anthrax vaccination immunization program, until the 
Department of Defense obtains approval for use of an improved vaccine, 
should be suspended.'' It went on to conclude that ``use of current 
anthrax vaccines for force protection against biological warfare should 
be considered experimental and undertaken only pursuant to FDA 
regulations governing investigational testing.''
  The American Public Health Association Governing Council adopted a 
policy statement November 10, 1999, urging DOD ``to delay any further 
immunization against anthrax using the current vaccine, or at least to 
make immunization voluntary.''
  The General Accounting Office presented testimony on October 12, 
1999, before the House Committee on Government Reform and stated among 
other concerns that ``long-term safety of the licensed vaccine has not 
been studied.''
  These adverse symptoms are not new. I held a hearing in my district 
some time ago and invited Gulf War veterans who were having health 
problems they believed to be related to the injections they received. I 
was shocked at the number that came and testified who were truly ill 
and were not getting recognition of their problems, nor even needed 
medical help.
  It is clear that the Anthrax Vaccination Immunization Program, while 
well intended, is a flawed policy that should immediately be stopped 
and reexamined in the light of the growing preponderance of evidence 
challenging the Department of Defense position. I am calling on 
Secretary Cohen to take immediate action to suspend the AVIP

[[Page H3152]]

until DOD complies with the recommendations of the Subcommittee on 
National Security, Veterans Affairs and International Relations.
  I hope this action will send a clear signal to our men and women in 
uniform. This seriously flawed program does not meet the high standards 
they deserve.

                          ____________________