July 28, 2025
Ms. Blunt Rochester (for herself, Mr. Luján, Mr. Warnock, Mr. Heinrich, Mr. Merkley, and Ms. Alsobrooks) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
To provide that members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices may not be terminated except for cause and to require the immediate reinstatement of the members of such advisory committee.
Section 1. Membership of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices
(a) Requirements for termination of members of ACIP
(1) In general
The Secretary of Health and Human Services (referred to in this section as the Secretary) may only terminate a member of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (referred to in this section as the Advisory Committee) for cause and after notice and opportunity for hearing.
(2) Justification for termination
If the Secretary terminates a member of the Advisory Committee for cause as described in paragraph (1), not later than 1 day after the date of such termination, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives, and make publicly available, a written justification for such termination.
(3) Effect on Federal employees
With respect to a member of the Advisory Committee who is also an employee of the Federal Government, a termination for cause as described in paragraph (1) shall apply only with respect to the membership of the individual as such a member and may not be construed to modify or otherwise impact any protection available to the individual in the capacity of the individual as such an employee.
(4) Definition of for cause
In this subsection, the term for cause, with respect to a termination of a member of the Advisory Committee, means a termination based on inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office.
(b) Reinstatement of certain ACIP members
The Secretary shall immediately revert to the membership of the Advisory Committee as in effect on June 8, 2025, and such members of such Committee shall serve the remainder of the terms that applied to such members as of June 9, 2025.
(c) Requirements for appointment of members of ACIP
In the case of any vacancy in the membership of the Advisory Committee that occurs after the date on which the individuals are reinstated to the Advisory Committee under subsection (b), the Secretary shall appoint a member to fill such vacancy from among individuals recommended by the Comptroller General of the United States.