Dale Bumpers: “as you know, I share my colleagues' strong commitment to substantially improving the immunization rates for the Nation's…”

“as you know, I share my colleagues' strong commitment to substantially improving the immunization rates for the Nation's children and have sought to provide leadership in this effort. Today's approval of the provisions of S. 732, the Comprehensive Childhood Immunization Act, as part of the Senate substitute to H.R. 2659, is a vital part of this effort. In addition to providing States with support to enhance their education and outreach programs and public health vaccine delivery infrastructure, this legislation includes a bonus program to reward those States that meet or exceed their immunization goals, as I originally proposed and as was adopted by the Senate during the consideration of the reconciliation bill last fall. I also share the deep concern expressed by my colleagues here today, however, over the effect on these public sector efforts that the reduction the administration is proposing in its fiscal year 1995 budget in funds to the States for State vaccine distribution programs will have. The state vaccine purchase program has long been the cornerstone of state immunization programs, delivering childhood vaccine at no cost to children at local public health departments and clinics. I am committed to maintaining a strong public sector vaccine delivery system, and I will work with my colleagues as the budget and appropriations process proceeds to keep this commitment and restore the needed funding to the 317(j) program for fiscal year 1995.”