This bill would change parts of the Public Health Service Act so that people can sue vaccine administrators or manufacturers in State or Federal court for vaccine-related injuries or deaths. It changes the rules of the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (the Program) so that a person who gets a court judgment or settlement cannot then seek Program compensation for the same injury, and a person who gets Program compensation cannot then bring a civil lawsuit for that same injury. The bill repeals several Program provisions (including section 2121(a) and sections 2122 and 2123) and changes timing rules so petitions to the Program may be filed at any time unless barred by the new rule about court judgments or Program awards. One change is listed as retroactive. The bill also amends related sections about attorneys’ fees and payments. Separately, it amends the definition of “covered countermeasure” to say that it does not include any vaccine used to mitigate, prevent, or treat COVID-19.
No publicly available information on costs, budget estimates, or fiscal effects is included in the bill text or provided metadata.
No publicly available statement of proponents’ reasons or detailed arguments appears in the bill text. The bill was introduced by Representatives Paul Gosar and multiple cosponsors listed in the bill metadata.
No publicly available statement of opponents’ reasons or arguments appears in the bill text or provided metadata.