SMALLPOX PROVISIONS HIDDEN IN HOMELAND SECURITY BILL

December 10, 2003

by Mike Davis ®

11/14/2002, 11:22:00

The Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS) is urging Members of

Congress to eliminate the section of the new Homeland Security Bill that would

give the HHS Secretary virtually unlimited powers to declare an emergency and

order smallpox treatment that could include forced immunizations and

quarantines.

The 480-page bill, HR 5710 hits the floor of the House tonight, even though most

Members haven't had a chance to read it yet. Section 304, Subsection C is titled

" Administration of counter measures against smallpox. "

It gives the Secretary of HHS these unchecked powers (pg. 76):

Declare an actual or POTENTIAL bio-terrorist or other kind of incident He can

administer " countermeasures " to a category of individuals or everyone He can

continually extend the declare the declaration without Congress's consent Also,

if you are harmed, you cannot sue or take any other civil remedy.

" This section will give the Secretary unlimited power to define a real or

potential threat, to take any measures he decides, and to do it for as long as

he wants, " said Kathryn Serkes, AAPS spokeswoman. " It’s Alice in Wonderland time

again – an emergency is just what he says it is. "

Serkes also points out that the section echoes the Model State Emergency Health

Powers Act that most state legislatures defeated this past year. " Just remove

'governor' from the old bill and insert 'Secretary' and magically you have a

federal bill that was firmly rejected by voters across the country, " said

Serkes.

AAPS sent out thousands of email alerts urging voters to ask that the section be

removed.

" Just what are the 'counter measures' allowed? " Forced immunizations?

Quarantines? It’s not clear, but the powers seem virtually unchecked by any

other agency, " said Serkes. " We need an honest accounting of how this will work.

It's too frightening to allow it to be rammed through. "

AAPS has repeatedly applauded the President's movement toward an advance,

voluntary immunization to head off forced vaccines following an attack.

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