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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MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION
PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS
OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR
LEGAL ADVICE. THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND
COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH
YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.