A few Letters from Congressman

[Guest guest]

I retyped a few of the letters I received back from various Congressmen.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------\

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------\

-------

From : Deal 9th District Georgia

Thank you for contacting my office with your concerns regarding the

Anthrax Vaccination program. I appreciate hearing from you.

As you may know, Rep. Gilman(R-NY) has introduced H.R. 2548, the

Department of Defense Anthrax Vaccination Moratorium Act. This

Legislation would halt further implementation of the Anthrax Vaccine

program that is currently being administered to members of the active

duty armed forces, reserves and national guard, until two independent

studies are conducted.

The first study to be conducted by the National Institute of Health

would examine both the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine being

used by the Department of Defense. The second study to be carried out

by the GAO will be tasked with reviewing the effect of this vaccination

program on troop morale, unit effectiveness and retention and the manner

in which adverse reactions are reported and measured.

You will be pleased to know that I am a cosponsor of H.R. 2548. this

measure has been referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.

Should this legislation reach the House floor you may be assured of my

support.

Thank you again for contacting my office. I look forward to

corresponding with you in the future.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------\

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------\

-------

from: Zach Wamp Third District, Tennessee

Given the current problems with retention, the federal government should

be very cautious about taking any steps which could lead to the early

departure of men and women from the armed forces. Thank you for getting

in touch with me about the mandatory implementation of the anthrax

vaccine.

I too have grave concerns about the safety and effectiveness of the

vaccine and have personally met with military leaders about this issue.

I also spoke to Rep. Walter about his bill, H.R. 2543, which would

make the anthrax vaccine immunization program voluntary for all members

of the armed forces. I support these efforts and look forward to this

bill coming to the House floor for a vote.

If you have any other questions about the vaccine, you may want to look

at the following Internet site :http://www.anthrax.osd.mil/. Thanks

again for sharing your thoughts with me about this important issue. I

will continue to support our troops in every way.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------\

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------\

----------

from: Bob Filner 50th District California

Thank you for contacting me about the anthrax vaccination program in the

military.

The new production facility was built after the old facility, the

nation's only source of the anthrax vaccine, was sold by the state of

Michigan to the Bioport Corporation of Lansing, Michigan. Bioport, a

private company, replaced the old company with a larger, more modern one

to handle the large quantity in production required by the Pentagon's

decision to inoculate all 2/4 million active duty duty and reserve

troops. However, you may have recently read in the news that the

Pentagon has delayed the second phase of the anthrax vaccination program

because the Food and Drug Administration has not yet recertified this

new plant that makes the vaccine.

I wholeheartedly agree with you and believe that there are health and

efficacy concerns about this vaccine and I have written Defense

Secretary Cohen and Navy Secretary Danzig to request

that the administration of this vaccination be voluntary. I have also

co-sponsored two bills in the House of Representatives H.R. 2543 would

make this vaccination program voluntary and H.R. 2548 would suspend the

implementation of this vaccination program until the vaccine is

determined to be safe and effective!

I am working to pass H.R. 2543 and H.R. 2548 as quickly as possible.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------\

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------\

----------

I thought you guys might be interested in these.

I do know one thing if any Congressman that I am capable of voting for

does not support these bills they certainly aren't getting my vote. Not

now not ever.