Burton Statement on Homeland Security Provision Prohibiting Vaccine-Injury Lawsuits

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For Immediate Release:                                                          Contact:        Blain Rethmeier/Nick Mutton

November 15, 2002                                                                               (202) 225-5074

Burton STATEMENT ON HOMELAND SECURITY

PROVISION PROHIBITING VACCINE-INJURY LAWSUITS

        Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dan Burton (R-IN), Chairman of the Committee on Government Reform, made the following statement today regarding provisions in the Homeland Security bill prohibiting vaccine-injury lawsuits:

        "These provisions don't belong in this bill.  This is not a homeland security issue.  This is a fairness issue.  15 years ago, one in every 10,000 children was autistic.  Today, one in every 250 children is autistic.  We have an epidemic on our hands.  More and more parents believe that the autism affecting their children is related to a vaccine, or a mercury preservative used in numerous vaccines given to their children.  These provisions in the Homeland Security bill will cut off their recourse to the courts, and that's just wrong."

        "Instead of passing legislation to take away the rights of families with vaccine-injured children, we should be passing legislation to try to help them.  We also need to fund the research that will help us understand the effects of the mercury preservatives used in vaccines."

        Sections 1714 to 1717 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 would prohibit lawsuits - including all pending litigation - by families of injured children alleging that a component, ingredient, adulterant or contaminant of a vaccine caused the injury.  These provisions, which were not in the original bill, were approved by the House on Wednesday, and are being debated in the Senate today.

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