http://www.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0301/08/wbr.00.html

CNN - Wolf Blitzer Reports

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: An effort is under way on Capitol Hill here in Washington to
repeal part of the Homeland Security Act. The controversial provision
protects pharmaceutical companies in lawsuits over a vaccine
preservation some say is linked to autism. CNN's Kathleen Koch has
more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Give Mommy a kiss.

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Four-year-old Noah
Woark is autistic. His mother says his behavior changed not long
after receiving a series of vaccines. But the lawsuit she filed
against the drug companies that made them has been stymied by a new
law limiting such complaints.

DAWN WOARK, NOAH'S MOTHER: I'm very angry because who's going to take
care of my child after we're gone? My child's going to have to maybe
live with us for the rest of his life. He's not going to be able to
function in a normal society without some kind of help.

KOCH: Dozens of parents from across the country joined by several
lawmakers protested on Capitol Hill about how the measure was
inserted at the 11 hour into the Homeland Security Bill.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is a major scandal.

KOCH: Michigan senator, Debbie Stabenow, has already introduced
legislation to overturn the liability limits.

SEN. DEBBIE STABENOW (D), MICHIGAN: What we have in the dead of
night, a provision put in to help a pharmaceutical company or series
of companies that help the parents and their rights for protecting
their children right off at the knees. KOCH: Vaccine makers like Eli
Lilly objects, saying trial lawyers are, quote, "Clearly attempting
to thwart the original aim of Congress, which was to reduce the
chilling effect that litigation has on the development of new
vaccines."

There is no definitive scientific link between vaccines and disorders
like autism. At the same time, the Institute of Medicine in 2001 said
a mercury-based preservative once used in vaccines could not be ruled
in or out as a potential cause of neurodevelopmental disorders. The
new Senate Majority Leader, Dr. Bill Frist, argued for the liability
limits.

(on camera): Now his Republican team says Frist will follow through
on a promise by his predecessor, to revisit the issue in his new
Congress.

SEN. BILL FRIST (R-TN), MINORITY LEADER: That commitment was made and
it will be filled and very quickly, I might add.

KOCH: That can't come soon enough for parents like Scott and Laura
Bono, who's son, Jackson, is autistic.

LAURA BONO, JACKSON'S MOTHER: We have no recourse. We're left with a
child that was damaged by vaccines and there is nothing that we can
do about it.

KOCH: Kathleen Koch, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Here's your chance to weigh in on the story. Our "Web
Question of The Day" is this: should Americans be able to sue
companies that make vaccines? We'll have the results later in this
broadcast. Vote at cnn.com/wolf.

While you're there, I'd like to hear from you. Send me your comments.
I'll try to read some of them on the air each day at the end of this
program. That's also, of course, where can you read my online daily
column, cnn.com/wolf.