Legislation & Politics

Letter to Senators supporting the Kennedy amendment to HR 4939 to provide $289 million to fund a compensation program for injuries due to a vaccine or other pandemic flu countermeasures

May 1, 2006

Dear Senator:

On behalf of the 1.4 million members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal employees (AFSCME), we are writing with respect to an amendment that will be offered to the emergency supplemental appropriations bill (H.R. 4939) currently under debate. Specifically, we are writing to urge you to support an amendment sponsored by Senator Edward M. Kennedy, which would provide $289 million to fund a compensation program for first responders, nurses and others who might be injured by a vaccine or other pandemic flu countermeasures.

As you will recall, the Senate approved a provision in the Department of Defense appropriations bill last December that established immunity for manufacturers of pandemic flu vaccines as well as other drugs and medical devices that might be used during pandemic flu. While the legislation established a compensation program, it failed to include any funding for compensation.

The failure to provide funding turned the establishment of a compensation program into an empty gesture for America's health care workers and first responders. We urge you to make the commitment to compensation real and to ensure that health care workers and first responders and their families will not be abandoned and left to economic ruin should they become injured. We urge you to support the Kennedy amendment.

 

Sincerely,


Charles M. Loveless
Director of Legislation

Print Version
 

Raymond Summers
Council 31, Illinois

Raymond Summers

"I'm not a Democrat or a Republican, but I am a proud city employee. I support candidates who are on our side. And after they win, I make sure they vote for legislation that supports public services."