[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 198 (Monday, November 15, 2021)]
[House]
[Page H6257]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




AUTHORIZING SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO FURNISH SEASONAL INFLUENZA 
                                VACCINES

  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 5671) to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to 
furnish seasonal influenza vaccines to certain individuals, and for 
other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 5671

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. AUTHORITY OF SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO 
                   FURNISH SEASONAL INFLUENZA VACCINES TO CERTAIN 
                   INDIVIDUALS NOT ENROLLED IN PATIENT ENROLLMENT 
                   SYSTEM OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

       Section 2 of the SAVE LIVES Act (Public Law 117-4; 38 
     U.S.C. 1701 note) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``a vaccine for COVID-19'' each place it 
     appears and inserting ``a vaccine for COVID-19, a seasonal 
     influenza vaccine, or both'';
       (2) in subsection (b)--
       (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting 
     ``and seasonal influenza vaccines'' after ``vaccines for 
     COVID-19''; and
       (B) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``, seasonal influenza 
     vaccines, or both'' after ``vaccines for COVID-19'';
       (3) in subsection (d), by striking ``Vaccine Allocation'' 
     in the heading and inserting ``COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation'';
       (4) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (f);
       (5) by inserting after subsection (d) the following new 
     subsection (e):
       ``(e) Limitation on Furnishing Seasonal Influenza 
     Vaccine.--A seasonal influenza vaccine may not be furnished 
     under this section after April 29, 2022.'';
       (6) in subsection (f), as so redesignated--
       (A) by redesignating paragraph (6) as paragraph (7); and
       (B) by inserting after paragraph (5) the following new 
     paragraph:
       ``(6) Seasonal influenza vaccine.--The term `seasonal 
     influenza vaccine' means any product that is--
       ``(A) approved by the Food and Drug Administration;
       ``(B) commercially available; and
       ``(C) recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and 
     Prevention for the prevention of influenza in a particular 
     season.''; and
       (7) in the section heading by striking ``vaccine'' and 
     inserting ``and influenza vaccines''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Takano) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Bost) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.


                             General Leave

  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
to insert extraneous material on H.R. 5671, as amended.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5671, as amended. Earlier this 
year, the SAVE LIVES Act was passed unanimously by both Chambers and 
signed into law. It has allowed VA to provide COVID-19 vaccinations to 
veterans, their caregivers, and spouses.
  With flu season in full swing and COVID-19 continuing to burden our 
health systems, the urgency to provide both flu and COVID vaccines has 
never been greater. Public health officials are clear. It is completely 
safe to receive both inoculations, even at the same time.
  Mr. Speaker, that is why I introduced this legislation to build on 
the lifesaving work of the SAVE LIVES Act and allow VA to administer 
flu vaccines in addition to COVID-19 vaccines to the same population. 
By providing easy access to both vaccines at the same time, I hope we 
can begin to reduce the burden on the broader healthcare system this 
winter.
  Mr. Speaker, I sincerely thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. 
Bost), the ranking member of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, for 
working with me on this legislation in committee.
  I ask all my colleagues here today to join this bipartisan effort and 
support this important legislation to increase access to both vaccines.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5671, as amended. This 
bill will authorize VA to give flu shots to certain nonveterans this 
flu season. Earlier this year, the chairman and I worked with the 
Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs' colleagues to allow VA to 
vaccinate all veterans, as well as their spouses and certain caregivers 
against COVID-19.
  The bill we are considering today would allow VA to provide flu 
vaccines to those individuals as well this flu season. Preventing a bad 
flu season this year is important for many reasons. It could help save 
lives, most importantly. It could help avoid adding further burden to 
the shoulders of the doctors and the nurses who have already sacrificed 
so much throughout this pandemic. It could also help ensure that COVID-
19 recovery efforts stay on track as we continue to try to get back to 
life as we knew it before March 2020.
  This is an important public health initiative and I am glad to 
support it today. I hope this bill will have the support of all of my 
colleagues.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close.
  Mr. Speaker, I encourage all of my colleagues to support this bill, 
and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, in closing, and before asking all of my colleagues to 
join me in passing H.R. 5671, I truly believe that passing the SAVE 
LIVES Act and passing this legislation today, H.R. 5671 constitutes one 
of the best moments that I have had as chairman where all four corners 
of the Congress came together.
  Ranking Member Bost, I know walked a very delicate balance to bring 
his Members together, but I appreciate his persuasive abilities with 
his side of the aisle.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to encourage that we do this more, and I have no 
doubt that we really did save lives. And I have no doubt today that we 
are going to save lives because of this effort before us.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this legislation, 
and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Takano) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 5671, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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