By SooToday.com Staff
SooToday.com
Friday, October 30, 2009

NEWS RELEASE

CONGRESSMAN
BART STUPAK
1ST CONGRESSIONAL
DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN

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WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Congressman Bart Stupak (D-Menominee) has urged the Pentagon to reconsider a decision to vaccinate suspected terrorists held at Guantanamo Bay against the H1N1 virus. 

In his letter to Secretary of the Army John McHugh, Stupak expressed concern over reports that terrorist suspects would have priority over United States citizens waiting for the vaccine. 

“As long as Americans must wait to receive the vaccine, the detainees in Guantanamo Bay should not be given preferential treatment to receive the H1N1 vaccination,” Stupak said. “I recognize the need to safeguard our service members in Guantanamo Bay against the H1N1 virus and commend the U.S. Army’s quick action to do so. But when the majority of U.S. residents are not being permitted to receive an H1N1 vaccine due to shortages, it is unacceptable that they go to terrorist suspects instead.”

Next week in his role as chairman of the house energy and commerce’s subcommittee on oversight and investigation, Congressman Stupak will hold a hearing into the status of the manufacturing and distribution of the H1N1 vaccine. 

Officials from the Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as manufacturers of the vaccine will be present to testify.

“Until this shortage is addressed, I urge Pentagon officials to reconsider this decision to vaccinate terrorist detainees ahead of Americans who are waiting,” Stupak said. 

Audio of Congressman Stupak can be found here.

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