A Democratic bill with 9 Democratic cosponsors · See all 9 cosponsors
Last activity — Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Hearings held.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill is known as the Family Vaccine Protection Act. It amends the Public Health Service Act to officially codify the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. The bill details the committee's membership requirements, duties, meeting procedures, and reporting structures. It requires the committee to base its vaccine advice and guidance on peer-reviewed scientific evidence. The legislation also establishes rules for the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regarding adopting or rejecting the committee's recommendations. Finally, the bill updates the requirements for modifying the Vaccine Injury Table to ensure changes are supported by scientific evidence.
Yes· 3 of 7
- Scored +7
Would children be better off under this?
The bill establishes a formal process for the Advisory Committee to review and update the list of vaccines for the Vaccines for Children Program.
- Scored +7
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
The bill requires the CDC Director to publish the basis for not adopting recommendations and notify Congress within 48 hours.
- Scored +6
Does this make health care easier to get in general?
The bill strengthens the Vaccines for Children Program by codifying the duties of the Advisory Committee to review and update vaccine lists.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Ensuring Evidence-Based Decisions: Under Section 2 (proposed section 222A(c)(1)), the advisory committee must provide advice, guidance, and recommendations based on a preponderance of the best available, peer-reviewed scientific evidence. This helps ensure that public health decisions rely on solid scientific facts.
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Transparency in Public Health: Under Section 2 (proposed section 222A(c)(2)), if the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention decides not to adopt a committee recommendation, the Director must publish the basis for that decision and notify specific congressional committees within 48 hours. This holds officials accountable and keeps the public informed about why decisions are made.
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Clear Timelines for New Vaccines: Under Section 2 (proposed section 222A(c)(3)), the advisory committee is required to consider the use of newly licensed vaccines and make a recommendation within 90 days of receiving written notification from the license holder. This ensures that the public and health systems do not face undue delays in reviewing new medical protections.
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Scientific Safeguards for Injury Compensation: Under Section 3, any removal of a vaccine from the Vaccine Injury Table or any modification to the list of compensable injuries must be supported by the preponderance of the best available scientific evidence regarding safety or efficacy. This protects individuals by ensuring that changes to vaccine injury compensation are tied strictly to science.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Taxpayer Costs: Under Section 2 (proposed section 222A(k)), the bill authorizes $2,800,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2029 to be appropriated to carry out the section, including operating costs, compensation, travel expenses, and staff support. This places a financial cost on taxpayers to fund the operations of the codified committee.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — The bill strengthens the Vaccines for Children Program by codifying the duties of the Advisory Committee to review and update vaccine lists. Does this make the country readier for the next outbreak? — The bill mandates that the Advisory Committee consider vaccines intended to address public health emergencies. Does this strengthen the Affordable Care Act? — The bill requires health insurance issuers to cover immunizations that have a recommendation from the Advisory Committee.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would children be better off under this? — The bill establishes a formal process for the Advisory Committee to review and update the list of vaccines for the Vaccines for Children Program. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill supports the Vaccines for Children Program, which provides vaccines to eligible children.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires the CDC Director to publish the basis for not adopting recommendations and notify Congress within 48 hours.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this make child care cost less? — The bill enhances the Vaccines for Children Program by providing a structured process for updating pediatric vaccine schedules.
- 6/2/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 3/19/2026
- Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Hearings held.
- 12/3/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- 8 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Angela AlsobrooksDemocrat · Maryland
Richard BlumenthalDemocrat · Connecticut
Lisa Blunt RochesterDemocrat · Delaware
Martin HeinrichDemocrat · New Mexico
Andy KimDemocrat · New Jersey
Edward MarkeyDemocrat · Massachusetts
Alex PadillaDemocrat · California
Adam SchiffDemocrat · California
Chris Van HollenDemocrat · Maryland