331 



^Mien the final vote was counted, eicfht of the 1?> panelists voted to 

 continue the inoculation program: two declined to vote saying they 

 were not competent in the area ; one, Dr. Salk, abstained ; and three, 

 Drs. Sabin, Hammon and Enders voted to discontinue the program. 

 Of those voting, all supported substitution of a less virulent strain for 

 the Mahoney virus. 



Acceptance of enabling legislation for distrihution of vaccine 



The Poliomyelitis Vaccination Assistance Act of 1955 (Public Law 

 377, signed by the President on August 12, 1955), was a compromise 

 measure. It represented agreement of both House and Senate that 

 existing State mechanisms should be used to distribute the polio 

 vaccine. The Senate report had concluded : 



* * * that the objective of protecting the Nation's children against paralytic 

 poliomyelitis * * * could be realized without the creation of any new govern- 

 mental mechanisms and without any major departure from established Federal, 

 State, and local public health patterns.^i 



The House Subcommittee on Health and Science reported the bill 

 to the full committee on July 8. The full committee favorably reported 

 an amended bill, H.R. 7126 on July 14." After debate on the floor, 

 the House version was passed on August 1. It would have provided 

 50-50 matching grants to the States to provide vaccine only to needy 

 children. 



The Senate committee reported its version of the bill, S. 2501, on 

 July 13, 1955. It did not require matching State funds for Federal 

 grants. Even before the Senate hearings had ended, the administration 

 had amended its bill by removing provisions which would have pro- 

 vided Federal funds to vaccinate only needy children. Thus, the Senate 

 bill also authorized a broad program of Federal grants to the States 

 to vaccinate children regardless of need. It was passed by voice vote, 

 July 18. 



The conference committee dropped the House provisions for match- 

 ing funds only for need}- children and substituted the Senate's broader 

 grant authorization formula. The Senate and House agreed to the con- 

 ference report on August 2, 1955, the last day of the session. 



The sum of $34.5 million was appropriated for the program for 

 fiscal year 1956. At the request of the President, the program was ex- 

 tendecl in 1956 to July 30, 1957, and an additional $72.8 million was 

 appropriated. 



IV. Assessment of the Congressional Information Process 



It was apparent throughout the 1955 hearings that the Congress was 

 not inclined to favor the proposals for tight Federal control and sup- 

 port of the national distribution of the Salk vaccine. The report pre- 

 pared by the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare sup- 

 ported the administration's view that existing distribution machinery 

 was adequate. The Department and its Public Health Service, as well 

 as the American Medical Association and State health officers, all testi- 



^ U.S. Congress. Senate. Committee on Labor and Public Welfare. Amending the Public 

 Health Service Act to authorize grants to States for the purpose of assisting States to 

 provide children and expectant mothers an opportunity for vaccination against polio- 

 myelitis. Report [to accompanv S. 2501.1 S4th Cons., first sess. S. Rppt. S.''>9 (Calendar 

 No. 847). (Washington, U.S. Government Printing Office. July 13. 1955), p. 1. 



82 U.S. Congress. House. Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce. Poliomyelitis 

 Vaccination Assistance Act of 1955 [to accompany H.R. 7126] H. Rept. 1186. (Wash- 

 ington. U.S. Government Printing Office, July 14, 1955.) 



