NEWS ALERT: American Citizens Abroad, Inc. (ACA) applauds Bi-Partisan Effort Launched in Congress to Secure COVID-19 Vaccine Access for Americans Abroad

WASHINGTON, DC

NEWS ALERT: American Citizens Abroad, Inc. (ACA) applauds Bi-Partisan Effort Launched in Congress to Secure COVID-19 Vaccine Access for Americans Abroad

June 28, 2021 - A bi-partisan effort led by Senators Chris Murphy (D-CT) and Jerry Moran (R-KS) is gaining steam to pressure the Biden Administration in guaranteeing Americans overseas have the same rights to vaccine access as Americans living in the United States. A letter of support signed by 26 members of Congress and growing has been sent to U.S. Secretary Blinken calling on the State Department to make vaccination supplies available to Americans resident overseas in the same way as U.S. embassy personnel, American contractors, military servicemen and women, and now - to foreign governments.  Murphy, Moran, Colleagues Urge Blinken to Help Americans Living Abroad Get Vaccinated Against COVID-19 (senate.gov). 

'While it's laudable that the Administration is making surplus vaccine supply available to foreign nationals, Americans living and working overseas are being left behind,' said ACA Executive Director, Marylouise Serrato. 'What we're asking for is a plan from the Administration and U.S. State Department on how Americans resident overseas, many in high risk categories, can obtain immediate access to U.S. supplies of COVID-19 vaccines.' Although there is no official government estimate of the population of Americans overseas, ACA's sister organization, American Citizens Abroad Global Foundation (ACAGF) fielded independent research on tax reform for Americans overseas and estimates that there are approximately 6 million U.S. citizens resident overseas, many of whom are in countries where vaccine rollout has been slow. The Biden plan to have 'all Americans' vaccinated by July should indeed include 'all' Americans, including those who are resident abroad.

“ACA is pleased to see the support of Congress and their positive response to our advocacy efforts to recognize the concerns and needs of Americans living and working overseas. ACA thanks Senators Murphy and Moran for their leadership on this and hopes that more Representatives will come on board and support Americans overseas on this important issue,” said Jonathan Lachowitz, ACA Chairman. ACA has posted a write-in campaign where individuals can petition their Representatives to join the co-sign letter and support vaccination of Americans overseas, https://www.americansabroad.org/vaccines-for-americans-abroad/.  ACA is the largest non-profit 501(c)(4), non-partisan, Washington, DC-based advocacy organization representing Americans overseas. Read more on ACA’s vaccine advocacy here: ACA Writes Follow-Up to US State Department and Congress requesting clarification on the vaccination policy for Americans living and working overseas. - 05-19-2021 : American Citizens Abroad, Inc. news for American Citizens Abroad, Inc. in Washington, DC (americansabroad.org)