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Rep. Allen Introduces Bill to Remove Special Interest Rx Industry Provision from Homeland Security Law

  Effort is a test of new Republican leadership’s willingness to challenge pharmaceutical company influence in 108th Congress

Washington, D.C.—U.S. Representative Tom Allen introduced legislation on 1/8 to repeal an amendment exempting pharmaceutical manufacturers from compliance with the liability provisions of the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. This “stealth provision” was inserted during the waning hours of the 107th Congress into the legislation which established the new Department of Homeland Security.

“Sneaking special interest liability protection into unrelated legislation, in the dead of night, is not the proper or fair way to advance this or any public policy,” Representative Allen said. “Republican leaders promised to reconsider this ‘stealth provision’ as one of the first priorities of the 108th Congress. Our legislation provides an early test of this promise in both Houses of Congress, each with a new Majority Leader. It affords an opportunity to find out if the new, Republican-controlled Congress will put the public interest ahead of the interests of the pharmaceutical industry.”

House Members joining Representative Allen as original co-sponsors include Representatives Mike Michaud (D-ME), Marion Berry (D-AR), Pete Stark (D-CA), Jim Davis (D-FL), Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Lois Capps (D-CA), Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) and Bernie Sanders (I-VT). U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) has introduced companion legislation in the Senate with other co-sponsors.

“Our legislation makes no judgment about the substance of the provision but rather the deceptive procedures employed to enact it,” Representative Allen said. “Many complicated issues surround vaccines, and public policy must balance incentives for manufacturers to produce sufficient quantities with protections for citizens who may suffer adverse, sometimes severe effects. Unless Congress debates the policy in an open, public manner with testimony from the public, the medical community and the families of those affected in hearings before the appropriate committees, the American people won’t know which liability restrictions may be appropriate.”

“The pharmaceutical industry donated $17 million to the Republican Party during the 2002 election campaign,” Representative Allen said. “Pharmaceutical company contributions and advertisements on behalf of candidates were a key factor in the Republicans’ narrow victory in the November election. Now we will learn if Republican Congressional leaders will stand up to their wealthy contributors or if the pharmaceutical industry got what it paid for.”

 

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