Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Roger Marshall (R-KS) on Thursday introduced a resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act (CRA) against President Joe Biden’s vaccine mandate for healthcare workers.
If fully enacted, the resolution would stop the Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) from implementing the mandate that impacts almost all healthcare employees and would prevent any similar rule in the future.
“Biden’s sweeping vaccine mandates punish essential workers who put their lives on the line to serve their communities,” said Senator Blackburn. “Tennessee’s healthcare workers should not be fired from showing up to work and providing lifesaving care. This resolution will stop the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) from firing the nurses, doctors, and medical professionals that care for the elderly, poor, and most vulnerable.”
Specifically, the mandate would have required the staff members of certain types of Medicare and Medicaid healthcare providers across the country to receive the first coronavirus vaccine by December 6, 2021, and the second by January 4, 2022.
The mandate has been temporarily paused in 25 states due to rulings by federal courts in Missouri, Louisiana, and Texas.
“The Biden Administration’s CMS vaccine mandate is a slap in the face to the hard-working men and women who never took a day off in the frontline fight of the COVID-19 battle. These heroes of the pandemic are being fired for choosing not to take the COVID vaccine, despite many of them having immunity through natural infection. As a physician, I’m confident the vaccine has saved lives; however, whether to receive it is a personal choice between individuals and their doctor – not mandated via executive actions,” added Senator Marshall.
Because of the number of cosponsors, the Senate is required to bring the legislation to a Floor vote.
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Cooper Moran is a reporter for The Star News Network. Follow Cooper on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
