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Sen. Moran: Federal Vaccine Mandate is a Clear Overreach of Executive Authority

Joins 40 Senators In Officially Challenging President Biden’s Vaccine Mandate for Private Businesses

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) today joined 40 of his Senate colleagues in formally moving to disapprove and nullify President Biden’s vaccine mandate on private employees under the Congressional Review Act – the official process for Congress to eliminate an executive branch regulation. Sen. Moran also spoke during a press conference on the formal challenge to President Biden’s vaccine mandate.

“The decision to get vaccinated should be left to each individual in consultation with doctors they trust,” said Sen. Moran. “President Biden’s federal vaccine mandate is a clear overreach of executive authority that threatens to worsen the labor shortages faced by private businesses in Kansas and across the country. This administration’s abuse of power must be checked, and I support this resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act to overturn the federal vaccine mandate.

“I ask the President to eliminate this mandate and let the decisions be made back home, between employee and employer,” continued Sen. Moran. “This certainly is a matter of personal freedom – the choice to decide about whether or not to be vaccinated should be the individual’s – but it’s also about the ability for this country to remain a world power, to remain safe and secure as a nation, and to have a growing economy that creates opportunities and for the American Dream to be alive and well.”

This week, the Biden administration is expected to issue a rule to officially mandate vaccination requirements for employees at private businesses with more than 100 employees. The rule, which will affect more than 80 million Americans, will impose $14,000 fines for persons who do not comply.

Click HERE to Watch Sen. Moran’s Full Remarks

Background:

On September 8, President Joe Biden announced vaccine mandates that extend to 80 million private sector workers and additional mandates on millions of federal workers and contractors. These mandates are expected to force private-sector employers with more than 100 employees to require all employees to receive the COVID-19 vaccine or produce at a minimum weekly negative test results before coming to work. As announced, the federal employee and contractor plan does not include the option of weekly testing rather than taking a vaccine.

To implement this mandate, OSHA has promulgated an Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS).

The Congressional Review Act (CRA) can be used by Congress to overturn certain federal agency regulations and actions through a joint resolution of disapproval. If a CRA joint resolution of disapproval is approved by both houses of Congress and signed by the President, or if Congress successfully overrides a presidential veto, the rule at issue is invalidated.

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