Armed Forces Voluntary Immunization and Health Justice Act of 2005

Bill: 109-hr-514
Sponsor: Rep. Shays, Christopher [R-CT-4]
Introduced: 2005-02-02 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Anthrax
Biological warfare
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Cost accounting
Department of Defense
Economics and Public Finance
Executive reorganization
Government Operations and Politics
Health
Informed consent (Medical law)
Insubordination
Law
Medical research
Military medicine
Military personnel
Personnel records
Research centers
Risk
Science, Technology, Communications
Smallpox
Vaccination
Vaccines
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2005-02-02
text: 
Armed Forces Voluntary Immunization and Health Justice Act of 2005 - Prohibits requiring a member of the Armed Forces to participate in either of the smallpox or anthrax vaccine immunization programs of the Department of Defense. Permits administering either vaccine to any such member without the informed consent of the member.
 
Requires the correction of the records of servicemembers previously punished for refusing to take either vaccine.
 
Requires the Secretary of Defense to assess the current threat of an anthrax or smallpox attack on members of the Armed Forces and report the results.
 
Requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to: (1) carry out an ongoing assessment of the adverse health effects being reported by members and former members of the Armed Forces with respect to the smallpox and anthrax vaccines administered by the Department of Defense; and (2) prepare an estimate of the future cost to the Department of Veterans Affairs to treat those adverse health effects, if determined to be service-connected.
 
Requires the President to establish a National Center for Military Deployment Health Research to coordinate and synthesize research efforts by Federal departments and agencies relating to the health effects of military deployments on members of the Armed Forces, including members of the reserve components.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-04-04
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2005-02-24
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.
action_date: 2005-02-24
text: Executive Comment Requested from DOD.
action_date: 2005-02-02
text: Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, 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.
action_date: 2005-02-02
text: Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, 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.
action_date: 2005-02-02
text: Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, 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.
action_date: 2005-02-02
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2005-02-02
text: Introduced in House