[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7308 Introduced in House (IH)]
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117th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7308
To direct the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human
Services to investigate and report on the Vaccine Adverse Event
Reporting System, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 31, 2022
Mrs. Greene of Georgia introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to
the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently
determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such
provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human
Services to investigate and report on the Vaccine Adverse Event
Reporting System, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Justice for Vaccine Victims Act of
2022''.
SEC. 2. INVESTIGATION ON VACCINE ADVERSE EVENT REPORTING SYSTEM.
(a) In General.--The Inspector General of the Department of Health
and Human Services shall investigate the Vaccine Adverse Event
Reporting System of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and
Food and Drug Administration.
(b) Required Questions.--
(1) Individuals.--
(A) In conducting the investigation under
subsection (a), the Inspector General of the Department
of Health and Human Services shall ask every individual
who reported an adverse event to a COVID-19 vaccine at
a minimum the following questions:
(i) Which COVID-19 vaccine did you receive?
(ii) Which vaccine did you receive as a
booster shot?
(iii) Do you have any allergies or
preexisting conditions?
(iv) Was the adverse event mild, such as
minor pain or swelling, or severe, such as
leading to hospitalization, disability, or
death?
(v) Can you describe in detail the symptoms
of the adverse event?
(vi) In detail, can you describe any health
problems you believe were caused by the adverse
event?
(vii) Are you aware of any other
individuals within your community who had a
similar adverse event?
(viii) When receiving a vaccination did you
notice anything suspicious regarding how the
vaccination was administered?
(ix) How soon after the adverse event did
you report it to the Vaccine Adverse Event
Reporting System?
(x) Did you seek compensation for the
adverse event through the Countermeasures
Injury Compensation Program?
(xi) Would you be willing to testify under
oath to a congressional committee?
(B) If an individual described in subparagraph (A)
is deceased, the Inspector General of the Department of
Health and Human Services shall ask one or more of the
individual's immediate family members to answer (on the
individual's behalf) the questions listed in
subparagraph (A).
(2) Manufacturers.--In conducting the investigation under
subsection (a), the Inspector General of the Department of
Health and Human Services shall ask each manufacturer of a
COVID-19 vaccine that is distributed in the United States, at a
minimum, the following questions and requests:
(A) What are the ingredients in your COVID-19
vaccine or vaccines distributed in the United States?
(B) Can you provide all information relating to
your manufacturing methods and your data on the
stability and safety of the product?
(C) What is the address of each of your locations
involved in the manufacture of the vaccines?
(D) Did you include labeling of the vaccine or
vaccines containing a specific statement describing how
suspected adverse events can be reported?
(E) Can you provide substantive evidence you have
followed all Food and Drug Administration guidance
regarding product safety?
(F) How many adverse events did you report to the
Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System pursuant to
section 2125 of the Public Health Service Act (42
U.S.C. 300aa-25) or other applicable law?
(G) Are you conducting your own internal review of
any adverse events caused by the vaccine or vaccines?
(H) Are you ensuring that all public statements
regarding vaccine safety are accurate?
(I) Are you limiting reporting data regarding
adverse events?
(J) Would you be willing to direct representatives
to testify under oath to a congressional committee?
(3) Health care providers.--In conducting the investigation
under subsection (a), the Inspector General of the Department
of Health and Human Services shall ask a representative sample
of health care providers, at a minimum, the following
questions:
(A) How many adverse events did you report to the
Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System pursuant to
section 2125 of the Public Health Service Act (42
U.S.C. 300aa-25) or other applicable law?
(B) What kind of compensation does your facility
receive for vaccine administration and from which
source or sources?
(C) Is your facility keeping a record of any
increase in hospitalization rates for individuals with
adverse events following vaccination?
(D) How many severe adverse events has your
facility encountered?
(E) How many mild adverse events has your facility
encountered?
(F) Has your facility determined if adverse events
are caused by an immune response to the vaccine?
(G) Is your facility keeping a record of any
problems with vaccine administration?
(H) Is your facility keeping a record of all
breakthrough cases of COVID-19 in fully vaccinated
patients?
(I) Has your facility terminated any health care
professionals who are opposed to vaccine mandates or
who have raised questions regarding adverse events?
(J) Would you be willing to direct representatives
of your facility to testify under oath to a
congressional committee?
(c) Reports.--
(1) Report on vaers.--
(A) In general.--Not later than 3 months after the
date of enactment of this Act, the Inspector General of
the Department of Health and Human Services shall--
(i) complete the investigation under
subsection (a); and
(ii) publish a report on the results of
such investigation.
(B) Contents.--The report under subparagraph
(A)(ii) shall include the following:
(i) A list of all reported COVID-19 vaccine
related deaths and injuries in chronological
order.
(ii) Transcripts of all interviews
conducted by the Inspector General pursuant to
this section with an individual described in
subsection (b)(1), a manufacturer described in
subsection (b)(2), or a health care provider
described in subsection (b)(3).
(iii) A list of recommendations on how the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and
the Food and Drug Administration can strengthen
the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System to
be a more reliable method of obtaining
information about adverse events.
(iv) A determination on whether the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention or the Food
and Drug Administration is hiding data
regarding adverse events.
(v) A determination on whether the Food and
Drug Administration is suppressing data on the
effectiveness of monoclonal antibodies that are
used to treat COVID-19.
(vi) Recommendations on further actions the
Congress can take when conducting oversight
regarding data collection by the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and
Drug Administration.
(vii) A determination on whether adverse
events are common or rare following
administration of a COVID-19 vaccine.
(viii) A determination of any causal
relationship between any COVID-19 vaccine and
specific adverse events using clinical,
laboratory, or epidemiologic evidence.
(ix) A determination on whether adverse
events are intrinsic to the COVID-19 vaccine
(meaning provoked by the immune response caused
by the vaccine) or related to faulty production
or administration of the COVID-19 vaccine.
(2) Report on investigation.--
(A) In general.--Not later than 6 months after
publishing the report required by paragraph (1)(A)(ii),
the Inspector General of the Department of Health and
Human Services shall submit to the relevant
congressional committees a report on the implementation
of this section.
(B) Contents.--The report under subparagraph (A)
shall--
(i) specify, of the amount authorized by
subsection (c)(1) to be appropriated to carry
out this section, the total amount obligated
and expended; and
(ii) describe how such amount was used.
(d) Subpoena Power.--The Inspector General of the Department of
Health and Human Services may, pursuant to authorities vested in the
Inspector General by other applicable law, issue subpoenas requiring
the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of any
evidence relating to any matter under investigation pursuant to this
section.
(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--
(1) In general.--To carry out this section, there is
authorized to be appropriated $100,000,000 for the period
beginning on the date of enactment of this Act and ending on
the date of submission of the report required by subsection
(b)(2).
(2) Offset.--
(A) Repeal of deduction for certain state and
local, etc., taxes of individuals.--Section 164(b)(6)
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by--
(i) striking ``and before January 1, 2026--
'' and all that follows through ``a separate
return).'' and inserting ``paragraphs (1), (2),
and (3) of subsection (a) and paragraph (5) of
this subsection shall not apply.''; and
(ii) by striking ``for taxable years 2018
through 2025'' in the heading thereof.
(B) Effective date.--The amendments made by this
paragraph shall apply to taxable years beginning after
the date of the enactment of this Act.
SEC. 3. TERMINATION OF COVID-19 PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY DECLARATION
UNDER PUBLIC READINESS AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS (PREP)
ACT.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall--
(1) not later than 3 months after the date of enactment of
this Act, terminate the public health emergency declaration
issued in connection with COVID-19 pursuant to section 319F-3
of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d-6d); and
(2) not reissue any such declaration or any substantially
similar declaration.
(b) Corresponding Termination of Liability Protection.--No immunity
from suit and liability under section 319F-3 of the Public Health
Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d-6d) shall apply with respect to the
administration to or the use by an individual of a covered
countermeasure if--
(1) the immunity relies on a declaration described in
subsection (a); and
(2) the administration or use occurs after such declaration
is terminated,
except that the Secretary of Health and Human Services, pursuant to
section 319F-3(b)(3)(B) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 247d-6d(b)(3)(B)), shall
specify an additional immunity period of 3 months for the manufacturer
to arrange for disposition of the covered countermeasure and for
covered persons to take such other actions as may be appropriate to
limit administration or use of the covered countermeasure, as described
in clauses (i) and (ii) of such section 319F-3(b)(3)(B).
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