Justice for Vaccine Victims Act of 2022

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. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Justice for Vaccine Victims Act of 2022 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 (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 (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) (i) striking and before January 1, 2026— a separate return). paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of subsection (a) and paragraph (5) of this subsection shall not apply. (ii) by striking for taxable years 2018 through 2025 (B) Effective date The amendments made by this paragraph shall apply to taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act. 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 (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 (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).

Summary: Justice for Vaccine Victims Act of 2022 This bill terminates the COVID-19 emergency and requires an investigation into adverse events associated with a COVID-19 vaccination. The bill also repeals federal income tax deductions for certain state, local, and foreign taxes paid by an individual. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must terminate the COVID-19 emergency within three months of the bill's enactment. The bill also removes, within three months of that termination, liability protections that apply to the administration or use of certain medical countermeasures (e.g., vaccines) during the public health emergency. Additionally, the HHS Office of Inspector General must investigate adverse events associated with a COVID-19 vaccine that are reported to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System. In carrying out the investigation, the office must ask specified questions of (1) each individual (or the individual's survivors) who reported an adverse event, (2) each manufacturer of a COVID-19 vaccine distributed in the United States, and (3) a sample of health care providers. The office must report its findings and recommendations, and the report must include, among other matters, transcripts of all interviews with individuals, manufacturers, and health care providers. The office must also report on the costs of carrying out this investigation.