[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 79 (Thursday, May 21, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1240]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




INTRODUCTION OF THE VACCINE SAFETY AND PUBLIC CONFIDENCE ASSURANCE ACT 
                                OF 2009

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 21, 2009

  Mrs. MALONEY. Madam Speaker, today I am reintroducing important 
legislation with my colleague Mr. Smith that I hope will go a long way 
to restoring public confidence in governmental vaccine-safety 
monitoring agencies. Public confidence in vaccine-safety is critical to 
maintaining the effectiveness of our Nation's vaccine program in 
preventing the spread of infectious disease. However, this confidence 
has been shaken by the actual or perceived conflicts of interest that 
may arise in the current system by which federal government agencies 
compete for funds or promote high immunization rates while concurrently 
promoting vaccine-safety. In addition to possible conflicts of 
interest, the public has serious concerns with the safety of vaccines 
or multiple vaccine schedules that may result in vaccine-related 
injuries. This legislation aims to build and maintain public confidence 
by putting measures in place to ensure the integrity and quality of 
vaccine-safety research. It is absolutely necessary that the American 
public have total and complete trust in the safety of our Nation's 
vaccine program, which is why I introduce this legislation today.

                          ____________________