William F. Smith: “I was pleased to support the efforts of the gentleman from Florida last year to include a vaccination requirement for…”

“I was pleased to support the efforts of the gentleman from Florida last year to include a vaccination requirement for all new immigrants in the Illegal Immigration Reform Act of 1996. This revision, section 341 of the 1996 act, is an important measure to protect the public health. In recent months, adoptive parents have become concerned about whether implementation of the new vaccination requirements will compromise the health of their foreign-born adopted children. These parents have raised legitimate arguments that the administration of vaccines to their adopted or prospective adopted children should take place here in the United States. We have every confidence that these parents will see to the immunization needs of their new children. The amendment made in committee will require parents to attest to their intention to fulfill the vaccination requirements in an appropriate time after their children have been admitted into the United States.”