Speech #1040201916

My amendment tracks the House of Representatives. specifically the amendment which was adopted there as part of the managers amendment and provided for a 3month qualification period. Perhaps. as I am describing in more detail the immunization amendment. the Senator or his staff would determine how they want to proceed. Very briefly. this immunization amendment. which was tentatively approved in the Immigration Subcommittee. simply requires that an individual applying for permanent residency status must be immunized for vaccinepreventable diseases. To give you an idea of what it would require. before a visa is approved. an individual applying for permanent residency status must receive a vaccination assessment or be vaccinated against measles and polio for those under 5 years of age and any other Vaccination determined necessary by Health and Human Services before they arrivw in the United States. Aliens who have not received the entire series of vaccinations as recommended by the Advisory Comm!ttee on Immunization Practices--and this includes a list of about 10 different particular diseases--would be required to return within 30 days of entry to the United States to a civil surgeon to receive these vaccinations. Mumps is actually required before entry into the United States. To recover costs of establishing and administering the civil surgeon and panel physician programs. the Attorney General would be required to impose a fee on aliens applying for permanent resident status. Currently. when any of the approximately 800.000 legal immigrants arrive annually In the United States. they are not required to be immunized against vaccinepreventable diseases. This amendment will help ensure that immigrants receive the recommended immunizations. It should not present a financial difficulty for the immigrant. The estimated cost for all childhood vaccines is estimated to be $248. The Department of Health and Human Services has made immunization of the U.S. population a top priority and by the year 2000 hopes to eradicate or reduce Infinitely vaccinepreventable diseases.