[NVIC] Help Defeat Burr Bill

[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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MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD ABOUT PROPOSED LAW

THAT VIOLATES YOUR CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS

" As passed by the Senate committee, the bill would exempt BARDA from the

Freedom of Information Act, which requires federal agencies to disclose

records requested in writing. In the 40-year history of the law, no other

federal agency has ever received such a blanket exclusion. Among the groups

speaking out: the Federation of American Scientists, the Reporters Committee

for Freedom of the Press and the National Vaccine Information Center, a

patients' advocacy group. "

- Dec. 12, 2005 Charlotte

Observer

NVIC Note:

On Oct. 19 and Nov. 15, NVIC issued national press releases which

informed the public about the efforts of Senator Burr (R-NC) and others to

protect drug companies from all liability for vaccine injuries and deaths

which occur whenever the Secretary of Health declares an actual or

" potential " public health emergency (see http://www.nvic.org/). The

legislation will also set up a secret agency within the federal government

(BARDA) that will oversee the development of experimental drugs and vaccines

that will be used on Americans during emergencies.

We have mamaged to slow the bill down. Everyone who responded to NVIC's

call and the call of allied parent organizations to contact Congress has

worked (see article below).

WE ARE IN THE FINAL STRETCH. WE CAN'T STOP NOW.

THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE TO CALL, FAX OR EMAIL YOUR SENATOR AND

CONGRESSPERSON IN WASHINGTON, D.C. TO MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD. BY THIS TIME

NEXT WEEK YOU MAY HAVE LOST THE RIGHT TO EXERCISE YOUR SEVENTH AMENDMENT

RIGHT TO PLEAD YOUR CASE IN FRONT OF A JURY OF YOUR PEERS IF YOU OR A LOVED

ONE ARE HURT BY AN EXPERIMENTAL VACCINE YOU ARE FORCED TO USE IN A DECLARED

EMERGENCY.

To find out who your Senator is, go to www.Senate.gov To find out who

your Congressperson is, go to www.House.gov To call your Senator or

Congressperson, phone 202-224-3121 and ask for him or her by name.

YOUR RIGHT TO ACCESS THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM IF YOU ARE HARMED IS A CIVIL

RIGHT. This legislation cuts off your right to go to court if you are hurt

by vaccines used in a declared emergency - even if you can prove the drug

company engaged in criminal fraud and negligence in making the vaccine.

YOUR RIGHT TO INFORMED CONSENT TO USING VACCINES THAT CAN INJURE OR KILL

YOU IS A HUMAN RIGHT. This legislation cuts off your right to know what is

in the vaccines you may be forced to use in a declared emergency and how

many people they have already injured and killed.

IF EACH ONE OF US FAILS TO STAND UP FOR OUR CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS, WE

WILL ALL LOSE THEM.

http://www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/news/local/13386971.htm

Posted on Mon, Dec. 12, 2005

Burr's bill loses steam as critics gain traction

TIM FUNK

Sen. Burr's freshman-year project -- a bill to speed development of

new drugs and vaccines against pandemics and bioterrorist attacks -- was

supposed to be on the fast track.

The Winston-Salem Republican introduced it Oct. 17. It was approved a day

later, on a voice vote, by the Senate Health Committee. And Senate Majority

Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., had hoped to give it a full Senate vote in early

November.

But the upper chamber is close to adjourning for the year and Burr's

ambitious bill has yet to resurface.

What's going on?

" He's been negotiating with Democrats ... for a long time, " said Burr

spokesman Doug Heye. " He'd like it to be a bipartisan bill. "

Some have interpreted that to mean that Burr doesn't have enough votes and

is busy changing the bill in order to get them.

While the N.C. senator negotiates, criticism of the legislation -- mostly

from interest groups and bloggers -- appears to be getting louder.

For weeks, the main objection was that Burr's bill would shield drug

companies from liability lawsuits. He has said some protection is necessary

to entice profit-minded companies that have been reluctant to develop the

new medicines.

Now the legislation is under fire from groups who say Burr would create a

new federal outfit -- the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development

Agency, or BARDA -- and then wrap it in secrecy.

As passed by the Senate committee, the bill would exempt BARDA from the

Freedom of Information Act, which requires federal agencies to disclose

records requested in writing. In the 40-year history of the law, no other

federal agency has ever received such a blanket exclusion.

Among the groups speaking out: the Federation of American Scientists, the

Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and the National Vaccine

Information Center, a patients' advocacy group.

" It is an act of contempt for the public and for open government and

hopefully will not be adopted, " Aftergood, head of the scientists'

Project on Government Secrecy, told the Washington Post.

Burr spokesman Heye told the Observer that the bill's secrecy provisions

will likely be fine-tuned.

" We've been working with some of those groups, to talk about the language

(in the bill) and address their concerns, " he said. " Nobody at BARDA will be

able to classify information. In fact, they'll be putting out information

every day. "

Still, Heye said, the bill will retain some exemptions to FOIA: to protect

companies' proprietary information and to keep would-be terrorists from

finding out which threats the country isn't yet prepared to take on.

So when will Burr's re-written bill arrive on the Senate floor? This week?

Next year?

Heye's answer is the same he's been giving since late October: " It will be

voted on soon. "

Tim Funk: (202) 383-6057; tfunk@...

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