The "revised" 21st Century Cures
Act, a bill that has gone from dangerous to Orwellian, passed the US
House yesterday, after it was suddenly revised, revived and placed on
the suspension calendar, a calendar usually reserved
for local or non-controversial bills that are expected to pass without
opposition. It passed.
To give you an idea of just how
convoluted this process was, a non-controversial bill about a tsunami
warning system (HR 34) was completely gutted, and its language replaced
with the worst parts of
21st Century Cures (which had been HR6).
The 21st Century Cures act
states that all patients receiving treatment by any medical doctor may,
WITHOUT THEIR KNOWLEDGE, be enrolled in a clinical trial for drugs and
devices, as long as there
is "minimal risk" to the patient. The patients are not
informed that they are in a clinical trial, and they have no right to
say "No" to being part of an experiment. If they are harmed during the
trial, they will not know that they could sue,
because any ill effect of the experimental drug or device cannot be
traced to the experiment. This allows the medical establishment to
experiment on the population with impunity.
It also will open up a floodgate of funding from Pharma to medical
practices. The act stipulates that as long as no more the 8,000 people
are being studied, uninformed consent is ok. But Pharma has thousands
of drugs and devices waiting to be tested.
How many people's lives will end due to unsafe treatments? We
already know that Pharma cannot be trusted with safety trials (look at
Vioxx and vaccines).
The Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act, including
provisions for forced psychiatric treatment, even for non-dangerous
individuals capable of surviving in their own homes, was amended into
the 21st Century bill.
It makes it easier for electric shock "therapy” to be fast-tracked as a cure for autism, as well as other conditions.
The
21st Century Cures Act fast tracks the approval of all vaccines, and
shields drug companies and vaccine administrators from liability for
fetal injuries and deaths caused
by vaccines marketed for and given to pregnant woman.
A fellow activist talked to
one of Senator Feinstein's DC staffers yesterday (Friday). He said that
Majority Leader Senator McConnell has asked for a cloture vote, which
will take place at 5:00
pm on Monday. He needs at least 60 approvals for it to be granted, and
the staffer said he's likely to get them. At that point they will have
up to 30 hours to debate the bill and a vote will likely take place on
Tuesday or Wednesday.
We all need to call our Senators NOW to tell them to vote NO on
HR 34. CALLS are far more effective than emails or letters, so please
take a few minutes to actually CALL the offices of both of your state
senators. Key
information and specific instructions on how to do this (including
contact info for your senators) can be found at this link: http://conta.cc/2fVnp1q
In addition, please call the Leaders of the Senate:
Majority Leader: Mitch McConnell
Washington, DC
Phone: (202) 224-2541
Fax: (202) 224-2499
Local office: Lexington, KY
Phone: (859) 224-8286
Majority Whip: John Cornyn
Washington, DC
Phone: 202-224-2934
Local office: Austin, TX
Phone: 512-469-6034
Fax: 512-469-602
Republican Conference Chair: John Thune
Washington, DC
Phone: (202) 224-2321
Fax: (202) 228-5429
Toll-Free: 1-866-850-3855
Local office: Sioux Falls, SD
Phone: (605) 334-9596
Republican Conference Vice Chair: Roy Blunt
Washington, DC
Phone: (202) 224-5721
Fax: (202) 224-8149
Local office: Kansas City, MO
Phone: (816) 471-7141
Fax: (816) 471-7338
Republican Policy Chair: John A. Barrasso
Washington, DC
Main: 202-224-6441
Fax: 202-224-1724
Toll-free: 866-235-9553
Local office: Casper, WY
Main: 307-261-6413
Minority Leader: Harry Reid
Washington , DC
Phone: 202-224-3542
Fax: 202-224-7327
Local office: Las Vegas , NV 89101
Phone: 702-388-5020
Fax: 702-388-5030
Minority Whip: Dick Durbin
Washington, D.C.
Phone: 202.224.2152
Fax: 202.228.0400
Local office: Chicago, IL
Phone: 312.353.4952
Fax: 312.353.0150
Democratic Conference Secretary: Patty Murray
Washington, D.C.
Phone: (202) 224-2621
Fax: (202) 224-0238
Toll Free: (866) 481-9186
Local office: Seattle, Washington
Phone: (206) 553-5545
Toll Free: (866) 481-9186
Fax: (206) 553-0891
Democratic Policy Chair: Charles Schumer
Washington, D.C.
Phone: (202) 224-6542
Fax: (202) 228-3027
Local office: New York, NY
Phone: (212) 486-4430
Fax: (202) 228-2838
When the original 21st Century Cures
Act passed the House of Representatives in the summer of 2015, it got
stalled in the Senate, and never came up for a vote. WE NEED TO MAKE
THAT HAPPEN AGAIN!!
Warm regards,
Lucy Cole