The Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS) is urging Members of Congress to eliminate the section of the new Homeland Security Bill that would give the HHS Secretary virtually unlimited powers to declare an emergency and order smallpox treatment that could include forced immunizations and quarantines.

The 480-page bill, HR 5710 hits the floor of the House tonight, even though most Members haven't had a chance to read it yet. Section 304, Subsection C is titled "Administration of counter measures against smallpox."

It gives the Secretary of HHS these unchecked powers (pg. 76):

Declare an actual or POTENTIAL bio-terrorist or other kind of incident He can administer "countermeasures" to a category of individuals or everyone He can continually extend the declare the declaration without Congress's consent Also, if you are harmed, you cannot sue or take any other civil remedy.

"This section will give the Secretary unlimited power to define a real or potential threat, to take any measures he decides, and to do it for as long as he wants," said Kathryn Serkes, AAPS spokeswoman. "It’s Alice in Wonderland time again – an emergency is just what he says it is."

Serkes also points out that the section echoes the Model State Emergency Health Powers Act that most state legislatures defeated this past year. "Just remove 'governor' from the old bill and insert 'Secretary' and magically you have a federal bill that was firmly rejected by voters across the country," said Serkes.

AAPS sent out thousands of email alerts urging voters to ask that the section be removed.

"Just what are the 'counter measures' allowed?" Forced immunizations? Quarantines? It’s not clear, but the powers seem virtually unchecked by any other agency," said Serkes. "We need an honest accounting of how this will work. It's too frightening to allow it to be rammed through."