If passed, SB455 would impact existing federal regulations that were established in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly those related to vaccination proof for travelers entering the country. It would nullify any obligations for international travelers to show proof of vaccination to enter the U.S., fundamentally altering how the federal government administers health and safety protocols for incoming travelers. This act could lead to broader implications for public health during ongoing or future health crises.
Summary
SB455, known as the 'Travel Freedom Act', aims to eliminate the requirement imposed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for proof of COVID-19 vaccination for foreign travelers. The bill seeks to terminate both the air travel requirement for foreign individuals entering the United States and the vaccination stipulations for those crossing the Canada-U.S. border. Its enactment would mark a significant shift in federal health regulations concerning international travel amidst evolving public health policies.
Contention
The bill has points of contention, especially about public health safety and responsibility. Proponents argue that it fosters personal freedom and removes unnecessary barriers to travel, while opponents express concerns that it undermines public health efforts. The ability to enforce vaccination requirements for travelers has been a crucial strategy in safeguarding the public against COVID-19 and preventing potential outbreaks, making the repeal of such mandates a contentious topic in legislative circles. Discussions surrounding the bill are expected to reflect deep partisan divides on how to balance individual rights with collective health responsibilities.
Related
This bill nullifies the order issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention titled Amended Order Implementing Presidential Proclamation on Advancing the Safe Resumption of Global Travel During the COVID-19 Pandemic and published on April 7, 2022. (The order restricts the entry of noncitizens who are not immigrants into the United States by air travel unless they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or otherwise attest that they will take public health measures to prevent the spread of the disease.) The bill also nullifies any successor or subsequent orders that require foreign persons traveling by air to show proof of a COVID-19 vaccination as a condition of entry and prohibits the use of federal funds to administer or enforce such a requirement.
To terminate the requirement imposed by the Secretary of Homeland Security for proof of COVID-19 vaccination for foreign travelers, and for other purposes.
This bill nullifies the order issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention titled Amended Order Implementing Presidential Proclamation on Advancing the Safe Resumption of Global Travel During the COVID-19 Pandemic and published on April 7, 2022. (The order restricts the entry of noncitizens who are not immigrants into the United States by air travel unless they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or otherwise attest that they will take public health measures to prevent the spread of the disease.) The bill also nullifies any successor or subsequent orders that require foreign persons traveling by air to show proof of a COVID-19 vaccination as a condition of entry and prohibits the use of federal funds to administer or enforce such a requirement.
Responding to growing threats to freedom of the press and expression around the world, reaffirming the centrality of a free and independent press to the health of democracy, and reaffirming freedom of the press as a priority of the United States Government in promoting democracy, human rights, and good governance on World Press Freedom Day.
Secure the Border Act of 2023 This bill addresses issues regarding immigration and border security, including by imposing limits to asylum eligibility. For example, the bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to resume activities to construct a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border; provides statutory authorization for Operation Stonegarden, which provides grants to law enforcement agencies for certain border security operations; prohibits DHS from processing the entry of non-U.S. nationals (aliens under federal law) arriving between ports of entry; limits asylum eligibility to non-U.S. nationals who arrive in the United States at a port of entry; authorizes the removal of a non-U.S. national to a country other than that individual's country of nationality or last lawful habitual residence, whereas currently this type of removal may only be to a country that has an agreement with the United States for such removal; expands the types of crimes that may make an individual ineligible for asylum, such as a conviction for driving while intoxicated causing another person's serious bodily injury or death; authorizes DHS to suspend the introduction of certain non-U.S. nationals at an international border if DHS determines that the suspension is necessary to achieve operational control of that border; prohibits states from imposing licensing requirements on immigration detention facilities used to detain minors; authorizes immigration officers to permit an unaccompanied alien child to withdraw their application for admission into the United States even if the child is unable to make an independent decision to withdraw the application; imposes additional penalties for overstaying a visa; and requires DHS to create an electronic employment eligibility confirmation system modeled after the E-Verify system and requires all employers to use the system.
To award a Congressional Gold Medal to the Freedom Riders, collectively, in recognition of their unique contribution to Civil Rights, which inspired a revolutionary movement for equality in interstate travel.