US Federal House Bill HB119

US Federal 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/9/23
• Refer: 1/9/23
• Refer: 1/20/23

Caption

Freedom from Mandates Act This bill nullifies certain executive orders regarding COVID-19 safety and prohibits the Departments of Labor and Health and Human Services (HHS) from taking specified actions with respect to vaccination against COVID-19. Specifically, the bill nullifies Executive Order 14042 (relating to ensuring adequate COVID-19 safety protocols for federal contractors) and Executive Order 14043 (requiring COVID-19 vaccination for federal employees). Labor may not issue any rule requiring employers to mandate vaccination of employees against COVID-19 or requiring testing of employees who are unvaccinated. HHS may not (1) require a health care provider, as a condition of participation in the Medicare or Medicaid program, to mandate vaccination of employees against COVID-19 or require testing of employees who are unvaccinated; or (2) otherwise penalize such a provider for failure to mandate such vaccination or require such testing.

Impact

The implications of HB119 extend to the prohibitions it places on the Secretary of Labor and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The bill prohibits the Secretary of Labor from issuing rules that would require employers to mandate vaccinations or testing for unvaccinated employees. Similarly, HHS is barred from enforcing vaccine mandates as a condition for participation in Medicare or Medicaid programs. This shifts the responsibility from federal agencies to individual employers regarding vaccination policies, raising significant debate about workplace safety and employee rights.

Summary

House Bill 119, also known as the Freedom from Mandates Act, is a legislative proposal aimed at nullifying certain executive orders related to COVID-19 vaccination mandates. The bill specifically targets Executive Orders 14042 and 14043, which address safety protocols for federal contractors and mandate vaccination for federal employees, respectively. By nullifying these orders, the bill seeks to eliminate federal requirements that employers must enforce vaccination among their workforce, particularly in relation to COVID-19 safety measures.

Contention

The bill is likely to be met with mixed reactions. Supporters argue that it protects individual freedoms and personal choice regarding health decisions, viewing the current mandates as government overreach. They assert that employers should have the discretion to implement health policies based on their operational needs without federal interference. Conversely, opponents of the bill express concerns that repealing vaccine mandates could negatively impact public health, especially in healthcare settings where vulnerability to COVID-19 is higher. Critics argue that unregulated environments may lead to outbreaks, endanger patient safety, and undermine efforts to achieve herd immunity.