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Both Congresswomen Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Ashley Hinson are defending their votes in favor of HR 550, the Immunization Infrastructure Modernization Act of 2021. They were two of 80 Republicans to vote for the legislation in the United States House of Representatives.

On Dec. 1, Breitbart reported about the 80 House Republicans who voted with Democrats to fund a federal vaccination database.

One day later, Breitbart published a story saying the GOP House caucus is “divided” on the purpose of the vaccination database bill.

“There seems to be a disconnect between House GOP members who voted to pass the bill and those who did not regarding what the legislation would actually accomplish,” Breitbart reported.

Republican Congresswoman Mary Miller made her feelings known when she told Breitbart the bill is “clearly a legislative tool to enforce vaccine mandates and force their Orwellian rules onto those who do not comply.”

But other Republicans — those who cosponsored the bill as well as those who voted yes — disagree.

Miller-Meeks said HR 550 does not create a federal vaccine database, track COVID-19 vaccine status or create access to electronic or paper private healthcare records.

“Instead, this bill modernizes the existing Immunization Information System and establishes stronger guardrails to securely exchange data between state, local, tribal and territorial public health programs and providers,” she said. “IIS already exists in most states, it is called IRIS in Iowa, and all IIS records are confidential and unidentified, making it impossible for the federal government to access personal information.”

Hinson echoed the words of Miller-Meeks.

“The legislation you’re referencing, HR 550, does not create a federal vaccine database — or a way for one to be created,” she said. “It also doesn’t require individuals to report their COVID-19 vaccine status. The bill simply gives states the option to participate in grant programs to upgrade immunization information systems.”

Congressman Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey is not an overly conservative member of the U.S. House. Van Drew switched parties — from Democrat to Republican — recently.

He voted no on the legislation and offered the following explanation:

“This bill is another attempt by House Democrats to extend their government overreach by tracking unvaccinated individuals and recording personal health decisions made by the American people. There is no reason that $400 million in taxpayer dollars should be used to fund a program that creates a database to store citizens’ private medical information regarding vaccination status.”

According to Must Read Alaska, a vote for the bill is a vote to approve a national vaccine database.

According to Insider New Jersey, the bill funds a federal vaccine database.

Who better to clear the air than the sponsor of the legislation? Democrat Congresswoman Ann McLane Kuster put out a statement the day the legislation was passed.

Here is part of what the statement said:

“The Immunization Infrastructure Modernization Act will improve and expand information-sharing between state and federal governments, as well as public and private health care providers, to ensure vaccines are being administered effectively and efficiently across all states and territories.”

Information will be shared between the state and federal governments. That would seem to be a key phrase.

Here is additional information from Kuster:

The Immunization Infrastructure Modernization Act authorizes funding to:

  • Conduct an assessment of current capabilities and gaps among immunization providers;
  • Expand enrollment and training of immunization providers;
  • Support real-time immunization record data exchange and reporting;
  • Improve secure data collection, transmission, bidirectional exchange, maintenance, and analysis of immunization information;
  • Enhance the security of bidirectional exchange of immunization record data and interoperability of immunization information systems with health information technology platforms; and
  • Enhance data exchange interoperability with other jurisdictions.

Congressman Byron Donalds joined Laura Ingraham to discuss the bill on Dec. 2. Here is that interview:

Ingraham said the bill would help fund a federal vaccination database.

Donalds, for his part, expressed doubt that the information would be kept private.

“Listen, I don’t believe the federal government should have this kind of information at all,” Donalds said. “It’s been crystal clear throughout the years that there are leaks, there are hacks, this information gets out. And the last thing we need is some administration like this administration — doesn’t even care about the Constitution or the law — targeting Americans and leaking information about who is vaccinated and who is not. It’s none of their business.

“That’s why I voted no. That’s why the entire Republican Conference should have voted no.”

Donalds said those who supported the legislation are ignoring the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence by supporting the bill.

Ingraham asked if the database might be used, potentially, to open the door to the federal government knowing who are the unvaccinated, where they live, surveil them, punish them and isolate them.

“That’s my point,” Donalds said. “We should never even allow such a thing. Not to mention they want to spend $400 million to create this thing. And we’re already spending more money than we even have. We shouldn’t be spending more money to do something that frankly goes against the health privacy of every American. It’s not the business of Congress who is vaccinated and who is not.”

Ingraham called it “shocking” that 80 Republicans voted for the legislation.

“Sounds like there’s a lot of primary challenges going to be under way just on that topic,” Ingraham added.

Ultimately, each person could read the bill and decide whether they think it is a good idea or a bad idea.

Here is the link.

Is it a good idea to “expand CDC and Public Health Department capabilities” right now regarding vaccination information?

Author: Jacob Hall

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