Skip to main content
HR 865 108th Congress House Health Access to health care Administrative remedies Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues Civil actions and liability Claims Collection of accounts Communication in medicine Compensation (Law) Congress Congressional reporting requirements Crime and Law Enforcement Damages Department of Health and Human Services Disciplining of employees Discrimination in employment Economics and Public Finance Emergency medicine Employee health benefits Entitlements

Smallpox Vaccine Compensation and Safety Act of 2003

Introduced: February 13, 2003 See on congress.gov
Sign in to write a letter Sign in to watch
This bill died when the 108th Congress ended
It never became law before the 108th Congress (2003–2004) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 6 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 10, 2003
Referred to the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections.
Mar 10, 2003
Referred to the Subcommittee on Employer-Employee Relations.
Feb 26, 2003
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Feb 13, 2003
Introduced in House
Feb 13, 2003
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Feb 13, 2003
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E268)
 Ask about this bill AI · grounded in the bill text

Have a question about what this bill does? Ask in plain English; the answer is drawn from the bill's actual text and official record, and it'll tell you when something isn't in the text rather than guess.

AI answers can be imperfect; always confirm against the full bill text.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service
Smallpox Vaccine Compensation and Safety Act of 2003 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to issue grants to State and local governments for various uses related to covered countermeasures against smallpox (countermeasures), including to provide for their administration. Requires States receiving grants to: (1) establish education programs regarding countermeasures; and (2) offer screening and testing for conditions that increase health risks from countermeasures.

Declares that it is illegal for an employer to discriminate against an individual because of a refusal to receive a countermeasure or because of an adverse reaction to a countermeasure.

Directs the Secretary to supply vaccinia immune globulin to anyone receiving vaccinia vaccine if such vaccine is declared a countermeasure.

Requires the Secretary to pay States the costs incurred for medical assistance to health care workers and first responders who suffer adverse reactions from a countermeasure, provided such individuals have not received other specified compensation.

States that this section constitutes budget authority in advance of appropriations Acts.

Amends the Act and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act to require continued coverage of benefits for countermeasure side effects by group health plans maintained by States and subunits of States at the level of such coverage as of September 10, 2001.

Amends the Public Health Service Act to establish a National Smallpox Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, under which compensation may be paid for injury or death related to countermeasures on or after November 25, 2002.

What's happening now March 10, 2003

Referred to the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 5
 Cosponsors 1
All 1 Democratic 1
D
Markey, Edward J.
Massachusetts · Feb 13, 2003
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 865: Smallpox Vaccine Compensation and Safety Act of 2003. 108th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-865/
MLA
"H.R. 865: Smallpox Vaccine Compensation and Safety Act of 2003." 108th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-865/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 865, 108th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-865/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 865: Smallpox Vaccine Compensation and Safety Act of 2003](https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-865/)
Report a problem