[NVIC] URGENT! SENATE VOTE FAILED - ACT NOW!

[Guest guest]

E-NEWS FROM THE NATIONAL VACCINE INFORMATION CENTER

Vienna, Virginia http://www.nvic.org

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UNITED WAY/COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN

#8122

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" Protecting the health and informed consent rights of children since 1982. "

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NVIC EMERGENCY ACTION ALERT:

Sen. Frist has not pulled it off yet! Today, the Senate REFUSED TO

APPROVE THE DOD APPROPRIATIONS BILL THAT HAS THE LIABILITY PROTECTION FOR

DRUG COMPANIES IN IT.

This means the DOD Appropriations Bill is still being negotiated. The

two controversial issues are: (1) the Alaska wildlife refuge oil drilling

language; and (2) the drug company liability protection language.

In the next few hours, the Senate could strip out the Alaska wildlife

refuge oil drilling language and KEEP the drug company liability protection

language and pass the DOD Appropriations bill.

WE CAN'T LET THAT HAPPEN.

TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES HAVE CALLED SENATORS IN THE PAST FEW DAYS

TO ASK FOR THE LIABILITY PROTECTION LANGUAGE TO BE REMOVED.

BUT WE NEED YOUR HELP RIGHT NOW.

PLEASE CALL YOUR SENATOR AGAIN. CALL 202-224-3121. and ask for the drug

company liability protection language to be removed from the DOD

Appropriations bill too.

PLEASE CALL NOW!

http://rollcall.com/issues/51_65/news/11630-1.html

ROLL CALL

December 20, 2005

Frist, Hastert Aid Vaccine Companies

By Stanton, Roll Call Staff

In a late-night move that could be worth billions of dollars to a small

group of major drug manufacturers, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist

(R-Tenn.) and Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) inserted language into the

fiscal year 2006 Defense Department spending conference report.

Shortly before midnight on Sunday, the leaders agreed - after House and

Senate negotiators had already signed the report and announced its details

to the public - to insert controversial language that protects vaccine

manufacturers from product liability claims in the event of a viral

pandemic, such as one caused by avian flu.

Observers familiar with the procedural history of conference reports said

that they were unaware of any precedent for inserting language after

conferees had signed off on the report. A review of several Congressional

Research Service guides to conference proceedings make no reference to any

prior example.

[...]

If the law is applied as Frist and other supporters intend, it will

represent enormous financial relief for a small group of largely

foreign-owned pharmaceutical companies that have worked to promote vaccine

liability protection. The companies include the Dutch vaccine manufacturer,

Sanofi Pasteur, and the Swiss-based pharmaceutical giant, Novartis.

These companies have wielded substantial influence in Washington, D.C.

Campaign finance disclosures show that the companies at the center of

Congressional bird flu efforts have significant Washington-based operations,

including well-funded corporate political action committees and a host of

top lobbyists on retainer.

[...]

During an early-morning meeting of the House Rules Committee on the bill,

Rep. Dan Burton (R-Ind.), a vocal critic of the vaccine industry, complained

bitterly that he had been assured the language would not be included in the

bill. " This kind of thing should not be done at 11 at night, " he said.

House Appropriations Committee ranking member Obey (D-Wisc.) accused

the GOP of tricking conferees, saying on the House floor that he had been

assured the liability provision would not make it into the defense bill.

[...]

Republicans strongly denied that they misled negotiators and insist that the

unusual arrangement to include the language was struck only because the

provisions had been inadvertently left out.

" There appears to have been some administrative snafu ... that led to much

confusion, " a Senate Republican aide familiar with the situation said,

adding that it took " several hours' work to clear up that the avian package

.... were indeed physically included along the lines understood by the Leader

and the Speaker. "

=============================================

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[Guest guest]

Thank you Sheri for keeping us posted on this. I've called my Senators' offices

again. This is too close to lay down and rest now!

Kay

[NVIC] URGENT! SENATE VOTE FAILED - ACT NOW!

E-NEWS FROM THE NATIONAL VACCINE INFORMATION CENTER

Vienna, Virginia http://www.nvic.org

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

UNITED WAY/COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN

#8122

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

" Protecting the health and informed consent rights of children since 1982. "

============================================================================

==============

NVIC EMERGENCY ACTION ALERT:

Sen. Frist has not pulled it off yet! Today, the Senate REFUSED TO

APPROVE THE DOD APPROPRIATIONS BILL THAT HAS THE LIABILITY PROTECTION FOR

DRUG COMPANIES IN IT.

This means the DOD Appropriations Bill is still being negotiated. The

two controversial issues are: (1) the Alaska wildlife refuge oil drilling

language; and (2) the drug company liability protection language.

In the next few hours, the Senate could strip out the Alaska wildlife

refuge oil drilling language and KEEP the drug company liability protection

language and pass the DOD Appropriations bill.

WE CAN'T LET THAT HAPPEN.

TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES HAVE CALLED SENATORS IN THE PAST FEW DAYS

TO ASK FOR THE LIABILITY PROTECTION LANGUAGE TO BE REMOVED.

BUT WE NEED YOUR HELP RIGHT NOW.

PLEASE CALL YOUR SENATOR AGAIN. CALL 202-224-3121. and ask for the drug

company liability protection language to be removed from the DOD

Appropriations bill too.

PLEASE CALL NOW!