Jeff Bingaman: “I rise to thank Chairman Warner and Ranking Member Levin for their acceptance of a very important amendment last evening…”

“I rise to thank Chairman Warner and Ranking Member Levin for their acceptance of a very important amendment last evening that was offered by me along with Senators Smith, Corzine, Kennedy, and Akaka to clarify the important role that the Department of Defense Vaccine Healthcare Centers Network plays in increasing training and competency in understanding vaccine associated adverse events, their diagnosis, treatment and medical exemption management. My amendment, No. 3392, expands upon the language that originally created the Vaccine Healthcare Centers, or VHCs, in 2001, to better reflect their current function and mission, and recognize the growing importance the Network will play in the future with the recent passage of the BioShield Act. As one example, the original language referenced only the anthrax vaccine program but the VHCs have played a fundamental role in developing and testing the DoD Smallpox Vaccine Program with clinical and research follow-up. These functions should be reflected in the authorization of the VHCs and the Bingaman-Smith-Corzine-Kennedy-Akaka amendment does that.”