Vaccine and Immunization Amendments of 1990
Public Law 101-502 · H.R. 4238 · 101st Congress · began in the House
Signed by George H. W. Bush (R) on Nov 3, 1990 · Health
Sponsor: Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA-24)
Cosponsors (7): Rep. Edward Madigan, Rep. John Dingell,
Passage votes
- HouseVoice vote
- SenateVoice vote
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
Vaccine and Immunization Amendments of 1990 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize appropriations for specified immunization programs.
Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services, through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control, to make grants for demonstration projects to: (1) provide, without charge, immunizations to children under two years old who reside in low-income areas; and (2) provide outreach to identify such children and inform their parents of the availability of the immunizations. Authorizes appropriations.
Directs the Secretary, through the Director, to acquire and maintain a supply of vaccines sufficient to provide vaccinations throughout a six-month period. Makes any proceeds form the sale of such vaccines available to the Secretary for purchasing vaccines. Authorizes appropriations.
Authorizes appropriations to carry out the National Vaccine Program.
Allows the chief special master to suspend proceedings on any petition if the chief special master determines that filings related to administrations of vaccines before certain provisions were in effect place an undue burden on the parties or special master involved.
Requires the special master or U.S. Claims Court, if the special master fails to make a decision or the court fails to enter judgment by specified deadlines, to notify the petitioner that the petitioner may withdraw the petition, and that the petition will be withdrawn if the petitioner, the special master, or the court do not take certain actions.
Authorizes appropriations for payment of compensation under the Program related to administration of a vaccine before the effective date of certain provisions.
Bars filing of petitions relating to administration before the effective date: (1) more than 28 (currently, 24) months after the effective date; or (2) if the first symptom occurred more than 36 months after administration. Modifies requirements regarding staying of State limitations of actions during the time a petition is pending.
Prohibits a person who elects to receive compensation under a court judgment relating to an administration before the effective date from bringing a civil action against an administrator or manufacturer.
Allows a petitioner to withdraw a petition if a special master fails to make a decision or a court fails to enter judgment by specified deadlines. Considers the petition withdrawn if the petitioner fails to withdraw by a certain time.
Authorizes appropriations, to carry out specified provisions of the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, from the Vaccine Injury Compensation Trust Fund to the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Attorney General, and the U.S. Claims Court.
Amends the Public Health Service Act to require that, during the period of appointment as Assistant Secretary for Health, a commissioned officer of the Public Health Service have the grade corresponding to the grade of General of the Army.
Amends the Public Health Service Act to modify the formula for determining the amount of grants for outpatient and inpatient services related to acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).
Directs the Secretary to reduce allotments for early intervention outpatient services related to AIDS with regard to States with political subdivisions which have a cooperative agreement from the Secretary, through the Centers for Disease Control, for counseling and testing with regard to AIDS. Directs the Secretary, from amounts made available as a result of the reductions, to make a grant to each such political subdivision, provided the subdivision makes certain agreements.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Energy and Commerce Committee · House · markup by, referred to, reported bySubcommittee: Health and Environment Subcommittee
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 22 actions.
- Nov 3, 1990Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 101-502.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Oct 24, 1990PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- Oct 16, 1990Resolving differencesResolving differences · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to by voice vote.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Mr. Whittaker demanded a second on the motion to suspend the rules. Without objection a second was ordered.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Mr. Waxman moved that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment.
- Oct 12, 1990FloorFloor · Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
- FloorFloor · Amendment SP 2974 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.
- FloorFloor · Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
- Jul 23, 1990FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
- FloorFloor · On ordering a second Agreed to without objection.
- FloorFloor · Mr. Madigan demanded a second on the motion to suspend the rules.
- FloorFloor · Mr. Waxman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Energy and Commerce Committee
- May 15, 1990CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Energy and Commerce Committee
- Mar 13, 1990CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Health and Environment Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Health and Environment Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Health and Environment Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee
- Mar 8, 1990CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Energy and Commerce Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
Data notes
Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.