Government Hearings
Here you will find videos of government hearings and articles pertaining to children’s health — including topics regarding mercury, vaccines, vaccine policy and autism.
Patti White, RN Testimony to Congress
On May 17, 1999 Patti White, RN, submitted testimony to the Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Drug Policy, and Human Resources of the Committee on Government Reform. Writing on behalf of the school nurses in her district, she expresses grave concern about the hepatitis B vaccine and the possible relationship to the significant increase in the number of special needs children entering school.
Conflicts of Interest in Vaccine Policy Making Majority Staff Report Committee on Government Reform U.S. House of Representatives June 15, 2000
In August 1999, the Committee on Government Reform initiated an investigation into Federal vaccine policy. Over the last six months, this investigation has focused on possible conflicts of interest on the part of Federal policy-makers. Committee staff has conducted an extensive review of financial disclosure forms and related documents, and interviewed key officials from the Department of Health and Human Services, including the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Truth Revealed: New Scientific Discoveries Regarding Mercury in Medicine and Autism
In July 2000 when SafeMinds presented to the Government Reform Committee the paper, Autism a Novel Form of Mercury Poisoning, publishing the evidence pointing to the synonymous nature of the symptoms of mercury poisoning and autism spectrum disorders, we could not have imagined that in 2004 thimerosal would still be in vaccines and that the government agencies tasked with protecting the public would have failed to take aggressive action to get the mercury out and protect our nation’s children. We could not have imagined that they would, instead, have focused their energies on avoiding or hiding the truth that is before them, and in doing so undercut the public’s trust while continuing to put babies at risk for mercury injury.
Conflicts of Interest in Vaccine Development June 15, 2000
Today we’re going to continue our series of hearings on vaccine policy. For the last few months, we’ve been focusing on two important advisory committees. The Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention rely on these advisory committees to help them make vaccine policies that affect every child in America. We’ve looked very carefully at conflicts of interest. We’ve taken a good, hard look at whether the pharmaceutical industry has too much influence over these committees.
From the evidence we’ve found, we believe that they do. The first committee is the Food and Drug Administration’s Vaccine and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee. This committee makes recommendations on whether new vaccines should be licensed.
Congressional Report – Mercury in Medicine
In 1999, following up on the FDA evaluation and pursuant to its authority, the House Committee on Government Reform initiated an investigation into the dangers of exposure to mercury through vaccination. The investigation later expanded to examine the potential danger posed through exposure to mercury in dental amalgams. This full committee investigation complemented and built upon the investigations initiated by two of its subcommittees. In January 2003, the investigation continued in the newly formed Subcommittee on Human Rights and Wellness. A primary concern that arose early in the investigation of vaccine safety was the exposure of infants and young children to mercury, a known toxin, through mandatory childhood immunizations. This concern had been raised as a possible underlying factor in the dramatic rise in rates of late-onset or “acquired” autism. The symptoms of autism are markedly similar to those of mercury poisoning. Significant concern has been raised about the continued use of mercury in medical applications decades after the recognition that mercury can be harmful, especially to our most vulnerable population – our children. This report will address one form of mercury in medical applications, Thimerosal, as a preservative in vaccines. In July 2000, it was estimated that 8,000 children a day were being exposed to mercury in excess of Federal guidelines through their mandatory vaccines.