This January marked the three-year anniversary of COVID-19 entering the United States. When the virus first hit our shores, a public health emergency was declared to help slow the spread of COVID-19. However, after over a year of lockdowns, social distancing, and virtual learning, Americans (supported by the science) were ready to return to normalcy. Unfortunately, the Biden administration has ignored the needs of the American people and continued to extend the public health emergency.
Over the last two years, the Biden administration has used the public health emergency to justify spending billions in taxpayer dollars—with little, if any, accountability. The president has also pushed authoritarian policies such as mask and vaccine mandates, both of which have proven not to stop transmission of the virus. With the availability of COVID vaccines, testing, treatments, infection acquired immunity and PPE, we should never have gotten to a point where people were forced to choose between getting a vaccine or keeping their job.
This week, my colleagues and I passed important legislation to help our nation return to normalcy and reign in the Biden administration’s overreach. I had the opportunity to speak on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives on two pieces of legislation that would end this outdated, bloated government overreach.
H.R. 382, the Pandemic is Over Act, would terminate the COVID-19 public health emergency. Even though the virus is still circulating, President Biden rightfully claimed in September that the pandemic was over, and I agree. Yet he continues to extend the emergency declaration for his own political gain.
Additionally, I spoke in favor of H.R. 497, the Freedom for Health Care Workers Act. This important piece of legislation would repeal the Biden administration’s CMS invasive vaccine requirement for healthcare professionals. CMS does not mandate any other vaccine for healthcare professionals. There was never an acknowledgment of immunity conferred by prior infection or that transmission occurred with vaccination. Healthcare professionals, just like all Americans, are capable of making the decision with their doctor on the merits, risks and benefits of vaccination.
These important pieces of legislation are just the first step in restoring trust in our government institutions following the COVID-19 pandemic. I was proud to voice my support to help pass these two bills, and I will continue fighting to ensure each individuals’ personal freedoms are protected, even while ensuring the public’s health.
