Newman, colleagues urge Biden to restore National Vaccine Program Office

U.S. Rep. Marie Newman and 29 other members of Congress sent a letter to the Biden Administration urging them to restore the National Vaccine Program Office, which they said was undermined by the Trump Administration.

Newman, D-La Grange, and her colleagues argued that the Trump Administration “completely undermined” the NVPO which had been “a leading voice of national vaccination policy at the federal level,” according to a news release.

“As the threat of emerging public health crises and global pandemics will remain for the foreseeable future, now is the time to re-establish and re-build a permanent and lasting public health apparatus to successfully prepare for and coordinate future efforts,” Newman said in the release.

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the members argued that restoring the NVPO through additional resources and staff can play “a vital role” in the administration’s goal of mounting a “safe, effective, and equitable vaccination campaign.”

U.S. Rep. Bill Foster, D-Naperville, signed the letter, along with other Illinois members including Jesus “Chuy” Garcia, D-Chicago, and Danny Davis, D-Chicago.

Newman’s district includes portions of Crest Hill, Homer Glen, Lockport and Romeoville.