Maternal Vaccination Act
Floor Speech
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Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 951) to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to carry out a national campaign to increase awareness of the importance of maternal vaccinations for the health of pregnant and postpartum individuals and their children, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 951
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Maternal Vaccination Act''. SEC. 2. MATERNAL VACCINATION AWARENESS AND EQUITY CAMPAIGN.
(a) Campaign.--Section 313 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 245) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by inserting ``and among pregnant and postpartum individuals,'' after ``low rates of vaccination,'';
(2) in subsection (c)(3), by striking ``prenatal and pediatric'' and inserting ``prenatal, obstetric, and pediatric'';
(3) in subsection (d)(4)(B), by inserting ``pregnant and postpartum individuals and'' after ``including''; and
(4) in subsection (g), by striking ``$15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025'' and inserting ``$17,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026''.
(b) Additional Activities.--Section 317(k)(1)(E) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247b(k)(1)(E)) is amended--
(1) in clause (v), by striking ``and'' at the end; and
(2) by adding at the end the following clause:
``(vii) increase vaccination rates of pregnant and postpartum individuals, including individuals from racial and ethnic minority groups, and their children; and''.
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Mr. PALLONE. 951.
Mr. Speaker, today, we are continuing our work to combat the maternal mortality and morbidity crisis facing our country. The legislation before us will help ensure that pregnant women and their healthcare providers are aware of the benefits and availability of safe and effective vaccines.
Tragically, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that about 700 women die each year in the United States as a result of pregnancy or delivery complications.
While there is no one cause of pregnancy-related death or health complications, we know that some illnesses like flu, pertussis, and COVID-19 can cause serious harm to pregnant women, including early labor and delivery and other complications. Vaccines prevent these illnesses and can save the lives of pregnant and postpartum women and their children.
However, despite strong evidence of vaccines' safety and efficacy, vaccine uptake among pregnant women is far below targeted goals.
We can and should do more to increase the vaccination rate of pregnant women. H.R. 951, the Maternal Vaccination Act, will ensure that our vaccination outreach and awareness campaigns and public health grant programs include outreach to obstetric healthcare providers, as well as pregnant and postpartum women. The legislation will also ensure that we are reaching women from racial and ethnic groups and their children.
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Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I urge support for this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in proud support of H.R. 951 ``The Maternal Vaccination Act.''
I would like to thank Congresswoman Sewell for introducing this legislation.
This bill establishes a national campaign to raise awareness and increase rates of maternal vaccinations and calls for the CDC to consult with various stakeholders to carry out this campaign.
In addition, the CDC must focus on increasing vaccination rates among communities with historically high rates of unvaccinated individuals.
The CDC must also make publicly available any materials and resources developed for the campaign.
In addition, H.R. 951 would instruct the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to broaden a public awareness campaign on vaccinations to include pregnant and postpartum individuals and require the campaign to disseminate vaccine information to providers and facilities that provide obstetric care.
The bill would also authorize an additional $2 million annually from 2021 through 2025 for the vaccination awareness campaign.
This bill would put pregnant women at the focus of the fight to combat COVID-19.
As the Chair of the Congressional Coronavirus Task Force, I have used every means possible to sound the alarm about the seriousness of the COVID-19 virus.
On February 10, 2020, I held the first press conference on the issue of COVID-19 at Houston Intercontinental Airport.
I then held a second press conference on February 24th to continue efforts to raise public knowledge of the impending threat.
On February 26th, I wrote the Chair and Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security requesting to be briefed by Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf regarding the preparedness of the Department of Homeland Security to address a possible pandemic.
On March 19th, I announced an innovative partnership with United Methodist Medical Center (UMMC) to open the first drive-through Coronavirus Test Screening facility in the Greater Houston area, which proved beneficial to everyone in the Greater Houston area, as with UMMC's help we have opened multiple sites that are located within high- risk communities in the Greater Houston area, to reduce the need for travel to get access to COVID-19 testing.
Since the start of this pandemic, I have sought to proactively address the critical issues and concerns tied to the COVID-19 virus.
As I stated at the beginning of this pandemic, ``We must not panic, but prepare.''
I am pleased to see that this bill is not a panic-induced response, but a well-thought-out proposal to further protect our citizens.
When pregnant women get vaccinated, they not only build their immune system to the virus, they also create antibodies for their unborn child.
Throughout history the vaccination of pregnant mothers has shown to be beneficial when it comes to viruses like tetanus, influenza, pertussis.
With this bill we can help newborn children who have not yet developed their immune systems fight off a deadly virus such as COVID- 19.
This also gives mothers piece of mind that they'll be safe as they advance in their pregnancy.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in proud support of H.R. 951, the Maternal Vaccination Act. =========================== NOTE ===========================
November 30, 2021, on page H6681, in the third column, the following appeared: This also gives mothers piece of mind that they'll be safe as they advance in their pregnancy. Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker I rise in proud support of H.R. 951, the Maternal Vaccination Act.
The online version has been corrected to read: This also gives mothers piece of mind that they'll be safe as they advance in their pregnancy. Mr. Speaker, I rise in proud support of H.R. 951, the Maternal Vaccination Act. ========================= END NOTE =========================
I would like to thank Congresswoman Sewell for introducing this legislation.
This bill establishes a national campaign to raise awareness and increase rates of maternal vaccinations and calls for the CDC to consult with various stakeholders to carry out this campaign.
In addition, the CDC must focus on increasing vaccination rates among communities with historically high rates of unvaccinated individuals.
The CDC must also make publicly available any materials and resources I developed for the campaign.
In addition, H.R. 951 would instruct the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to broaden a public awareness campaign on vaccinations to include pregnant and postpartum individuals and require the campaign to disseminate vaccine information to providers and facilities that provide obstetric care.
The bill would also authorize an additional $2 million annually from 2021 through 2025 for the vaccination awareness campaign.
This bill would put pregnant woman at the focus of the fight to combat COVID-19.
As the Chair of the Congressional Coronavirus Task Force, I have used every mean possible to sound the alarm about the seriousness of the COVID-19 virus.
On February 10th 2020, I held the first press conference on the issue of COVID-19 at Houston Intercontinental Airport.
I then held a second press conference on February 24th to continue efforts to raise public knowledge of the impending threat.
On February 26th, I wrote the Chair and Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security requesting to be briefed by Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf regarding the preparedness of the Department of Homeland Security to address a possible pandemic.
On March 19th, I announced an innovative partnership with United Methodist Medical Center (UMMC) to open the first drive-through Coronavirus Test Screening facility in the Greater Houston area, which proved beneficial to everyone in the Greater Houston area, as with UMMC's help we have opened multiple that are located within high-risk communities in the Greater Houston area, to reduce the need for travel to get access to COVID-19 testing.
Since the start of this pandemic, I have sought to proactively addressing the critical issues and concerns tied to the COVID-19 virus.
As I stated at the beginning of this pandemic, ``We must not panic, but prepare.''
I am pleased to see that this bill is not a panic-induced response, but a well-though-out proposal to further protect our citizens.
When pregnant women get vaccinated, they not only build their immune system to the virus, they also create antibodies for their unborn child.
Throughout history the vaccination of pregnant mothers has shown to be beneficial when it comes to viruses like tetanus, influenza, pertussis.
With this bill we can help newborn children who have not yet developed their immune systems fight off a deadly virus such as COVID- 19.
This also gives mothers piece of mind that they'll be safe as they advance in their pregnancy.
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