{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.paul.senate.gov/dr-rand-paul-introduces-the-end-the-vaccine-carveout-act/", "Dr. Rand Paul Introduces the End the Vaccine\u00a0Carveout\u00a0Act", "2026-02-24", "2026", "2026-02", "Republican", "Senate", "KY", "Rand Paul", "P000603", "www.paul.senate.gov", "paul", "https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:\n\nFebruary 17th, 2026\n\nContact: Press_Paul@paul.senate.gov, 202-224-4343\n\nDr. Rand Paul Introduces the End the Vaccine Carveout Act\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) introduced the End the VaccineCarveoutAct, legislation to remove special liability protections that shield manufacturers and administrators from civil claims when Americans are harmed. This bill was introduced in the House by Congressman Paul Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-09), and is cosponsored by Senator Mike Lee (R-UT).\n\nFederal law grants vaccine manufacturers, including COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers, special legal protections not afforded to producers of other medical products from liability, even if their products cause injury or death. The End the Vaccine Carveout Act reforms the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) by allowing individuals who suffer vaccine-related injury or death to pursue direct civil action in state or federal court without first being forced into a federal no-fault system that limits recovery and restricts legal options. Under current law, injured individuals are generally required to file a petition through VICP before seeking judicial relief. Dr. Paul\u2019s legislation removes those barriers, as well as the current immunity shield for COVID-19 vaccines pursuant to the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act.\n\nThe End the Vaccine Carveout Act also amends the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act by excluding COVID-19 vaccines from the definition of \u201ccovered countermeasures.\u201d This change ends the broad immunity currently shielding manufacturers, distributors, and administrators from most COVID-19 vaccine injury claims, even years after the public health emergency has ended.\n\n\u201cIf a drug hurts someone, you can sue the company in court. You can hold them responsible through the normal legal process. But when it comes to vaccines, and in many cases the COVID vaccine, the rules are rigged: you\u2019re funneled into a federal no-fault program that limits damages, restricts your options, and \u2014 in many cases \u2014 leaves people without real justice. That\u2019s cronyism,\u201d said Dr. Rand Paul.\n\n\u201cI strongly support the Senate companion legislation introduced by Senator Paul to my bill, the End the Vaccine Carveout Act. No product should be shielded from accountability simply because it is labeled a vaccine. Americans deserve equal protection under the law, full transparency, and the right to seek justice when harmed. This legislation restores fairness, strengthens trust, and puts patients\u2014not special interests\u2014first,\u201d stated Congressman Paul Gosar.\n\n\u201cPharma giants are hiding behind legal protections to avoid being sued by Americans experiencing serious vaccine side effects,\u201d said Senator Mike Lee. \u201cAmericans have a constitutional right to a trial by jury, but current laws allow Big Pharma players to dodge accountability and bar victims from pursuing their cases. Many of these patients were forced to get vaccinated or lose their jobs during the pandemic and are now dealing with permanent and very serious complications. Our bill will end these unconstitutional vaccine carveouts so that all Americans can receive the justice they deserve and hold Big Pharma accountable.\u201d\n\nRead the bill HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.paul.senate.gov/dr-rand-paul-introduces-the-end-the-vaccine-carveout-act/"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.7550851441919804, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}