Homeland Security Act Cannot Be Used to Force Treatments
Says Conference Report
The Institute for Health Freedom (IHF) is pleased to report that Congress recently clarified that the new Homeland Security Act (P.L.107-296, signed into law November 25, 2002) does not allow the federal government to mandate bioterrorism "countermeasures" (such as vaccines and other treatments) for civilians. Conference Report H. Rept. 108-10 says:
"The conferees understand that any countermeasures recommended by the Federal government pursuant to the Homeland Security Act (including, but not limited to vaccines) would be made available to civilians on a voluntary basis. Nothing in the Homeland Security Act would allow the Federal government to mandate the administration of a covered countermeasure to civilians" [emphasis added]. (Source: Congressional Record, "Conference Report on H.J.Res.2, Consolidated Appropriations Resolution, 2003," House of Representatives, February 12, 2003, p. H1120.)
Whether intentional or not, the fuzzy wording of the Act appeared to give broad, new powers to the federal government to mandate "countermeasures," such as smallpox vaccines, to protect all citizens against potential bioterrorism. IHF and others alerted the public to the new law, and many people spoke out against the impending infringements on their health freedom.
Caring Americans spoke up and Congress listened.
This article was originally published in the March/April 2003 issue of Health Freedom Watch.