PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.

Assured Compensation for First Responders Act

Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 655.

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Sep 28, 2006

Assured Compensation for First Responders Act - Repeals the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act (Division C of the Department of Defense, Emergency Supplemental Appropriations to Address Hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico, and Pandemic Influenza Act, 2006).

Amends the Public Health Service Act to establish the Biodefense Injury Compensation Program to provide compensation for death or any injury, illness, disability, or condition that is likely to have been caused by the administration of a covered countermeasure pursuant to a declaration by the Secretary of Health and Human Services that an actual or potential bioterrorist incident or public health emergency makes such administration to a category of individuals advisable.

Requires the Secretary: (1) after making such a declaration, to enter into a contract for the Institute of Medicine to provide its recommendations on the injuries, disabilities, illnesses, and conditions likely to have been caused by the countermeasure; and (2) after receiving such recommendations, to specify those injuries, disabilities, illnesses, and conditions deemed to be included in the Vaccine Injury Table.

Showing the opening paragraphs of the official summary.

Read full official summaryShow less

Sets the effective date for such Program as November 25, 2002.

Read the summary on Congress.gov
PlainBill analysis is coming later. This page presents official source data. We have not yet published a PlainBill explanation for this bill.

Who introduced it

Sen. Kennedy, Edward M. [D-MA] · D–MA

Committees

    0 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

      Actions

      A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

      1. Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 655.

      2. Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.

      3. Introduced in Senate

      Bill text & related measures

      Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

      Related bills identified by Congress.gov

      Source last updated: Aug 15, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

      Explore the bill from different angles

      Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.

      Neutral evidence review

      Objective

      Analyze S.3982 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

      View full prompt & sources
      Fairness and public impact

      Progressive lens

      Examine S.3982 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

      View full prompt & sources
      Institutions and government scope

      Conservative lens

      Examine S.3982 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

      View full prompt & sources
      Individual rights and government power

      Liberty lens

      Examine S.3982 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

      View full prompt & sources