[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 11 (Tuesday, February 3, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E105]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               INTRODUCING THE FLU PREVENTION ACT OF 2004

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. RAHM EMANUEL

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 3, 2004

  Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to introduce the Flu Prevention 
Act of 2004 with my colleagues Mr. Shimkus, Ms. DeGette and Mr. Engel. 
This bill takes important steps to ensure that the widespread vaccine 
shortages of this flu season, which resulted in the deaths of 110 
children will not occur in the future. The bill is an identical 
companion to bipartisan Senate legislation, introduced by Senators 
Bayh, Craig, Landrieu, and Durbin.
  This bill uses a multifaceted approach to ensure adequate flu vaccine 
supply and educate American families about the importance of the 
vaccine. It provides tax incentives for vaccine manufacturers to expand 
their production capacities. It also allows the Centers for Disease 
Control to share the financial risk of vaccine overproduction with 
vaccine manufacturers, so as to eliminate the current financial 
incentive to under-produce vaccine.
  Additionally, the Flu Prevention Act provides funding for and 
requires CDC to implement a protocol if the flu reaches epidemic or 
pandemic levels. It establishes a public awareness campaign to provide 
education and outreach efforts on the importance of receiving the 
vaccine, which populations should receive the vaccine, and vaccine 
safety.
  Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this legislation as 
a strong preventative measure to protect our nation's children from 
future flu outbreaks.