Freedom from Mandates Act

119 HR 79 IH: Freedom from Mandates Act U.S. House of Representatives 2025-01-03 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. I 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 79 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 3, 2025 Mr. Biggs of Arizona (for himself and Mr. Cloud ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform , and in addition to the Committees on Education and Workforce , Energy and Commerce , and Ways and Means , for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To nullify certain Executive orders regarding COVID–19 vaccine mandates and to prohibit the Secretary of Labor from issuing a rule mandating vaccination against COVID–19, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Freedom from Mandates Act . 2. Nullification of certain Executive orders (a) Safety protocols for Federal Contractors Executive Order 14042 (86 Fed. Reg. 50985, relating to ensuring adequate COVID–19 safety protocols for Federal contractors) shall have no force or effect. (b) COVID– 19 vaccine requirement Executive Order 14043 (86 Fed. Reg. 50989, relating to requiring COVID–19 vaccination for Federal employees) shall have no force or effect. 3. Prohibition of rules mandating vaccination The Secretary of Labor may not issue any rule requiring employers to mandate vaccination of employees against COVID–19 or requiring testing of employees who are unvaccinated against COVID–19. 4. Prohibition on Medicare and Medicaid COVID–19 vaccination mandates Notwithstanding any provision of title XI, XVIII, or XIX of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1301 et seq. , 1395 et seq., 1396 et seq.), the Secretary of Health and Human Services may not 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 against COVID–19, and may not otherwise penalize such a provider for such provider’s failure to so mandate such vaccination or so require such testing.