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Freedom from Mandates Act
12/31/2022, 8:58 AM
Summary of Bill HR 5360
The bill aims to protect the freedom and autonomy of individuals and businesses by ensuring that they are not forced to comply with mandates that they may disagree with on personal or religious grounds. It also seeks to prevent the government from overstepping its authority and infringing on the rights of citizens.
If passed, the Freedom from Mandates Act would have significant implications for public health policies and regulations, as it would limit the government's ability to enforce certain mandates in response to public health emergencies or other crises. Supporters of the bill argue that it is necessary to protect individual liberties and prevent government overreach, while opponents argue that it could undermine efforts to control the spread of diseases and protect public health. Overall, the Freedom from Mandates Act is a controversial piece of legislation that raises important questions about the balance between individual freedoms and public health concerns. Its fate in Congress remains uncertain, but it has sparked a lively debate among lawmakers and the public.
Congressional Summary of HR 5360
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.
