118THCONGRESS 1 STSESSION H. R. 497 AN ACT To eliminate the COVID–19 vaccine mandate on health care providers furnishing items and services under certain Federal health care programs. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 2 •HR 497 EH SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 1 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Freedom for Health 2 Care Workers Act’’. 3 SEC. 2. ELIMINATING THE COVID–19 VACCINE MANDATE ON 4 HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS FURNISHING 5 ITEMS AND SERVICES UNDER CERTAIN FED-6 ERAL HEALTH CARE PROGRAMS. 7 The Secretary of Health and Human Services may 8 not implement, enforce, or otherwise give effect to the rule 9 entitled ‘‘Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Omnibus 10 COVID–19 Health Care Staff Vaccination’’ published by 11 the Department of Health and Human Services on No-12 vember 5, 2021 (86 Fed. Reg. 61555) and may not pro-13 mulgate any substantially similar rule. 14 Passed the House of Representatives January 31, 2023. Attest: Clerk. 118 TH CONGRESS 1 ST S ESSION H. R. 497 AN ACT To eliminate the COVID–19 vaccine mandate on health care providers furnishing items and serv- ices under certain Federal health care programs.