Mr. President. this bill exempts adopted immigrant children ages 10 and under from the battery of immunizations they would normally have to receive before being allowed to enter the United States. I share Senator ABRAHAMs disappointment that this bill does not go further. The immunization requirement which has caused so many problems for all immigrants. including the parents of adopted immigrant children. was passed as a part of last years immigration bill. This provision requires all immigrants to receive the entire series of vaccinations recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices before they are allowed to enter the United States. During the debate of the immigration bill. significant concerns were raised that this requirement would lead to many unintended results. such as forged immunization records. unavailability of vaccines. and inadequate health care if the immigrant had an adverse reaction to a vaccine. As a result of these concerns. the Senate passed a modified immunization provision. requiring immigrants to obtain most of their immunizations after they entered the United States. where vaccines and health care are available and adequate. Unfortunately. the Senate provisions were dropped in the conference on the final bill. Our concerns were borne out. and the bill we are about to pass deals with part of the problems caused by the overseas immunization requirement. I had hoped we could pass a bill that exempted all immigrant children. not just adopted immigrant children. from this requirement. However. the adoptive parents are legitimately concerned about their childrens health. and they deserve this relief. I urge my colleagues to approve this legislation.
Keywords matched
immigrant immigrants immigration