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America Reopens Act
12/29/2022, 11:03 PM
Summary of Bill HR 7423
The America Reopens Act includes provisions for increasing testing and contact tracing efforts, as well as funding for healthcare facilities and workers. It also aims to support small businesses and individuals who have been negatively impacted by the pandemic through financial assistance programs.
Additionally, the bill addresses the need for safe and effective vaccines, as well as strategies for distributing them to the public. It also includes measures to ensure the safety of essential workers and frontline healthcare personnel. Overall, the America Reopens Act is a comprehensive piece of legislation that seeks to address the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and provide a roadmap for safely reopening the country. It is currently being debated in Congress and may undergo changes before being voted on.
Congressional Summary of HR 7423
America Reopens Act
This bill restricts the implementation and enforcement of various COVID-19 response measures in transportation, education, and other areas.
Specifically, the bill prohibits any federal agency or federally funded entity from requiring that U.S. citizens or permanent residents wear face coverings or show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or testing when using public conveyances (e.g., planes or trains) or transportation hubs when traveling domestically or returning from foreign countries. Further, Canadian and Mexican nationals may enter the United States for business through land ports of entry without regard to their COVID-19 vaccination status.
The bill also restricts federal funding of public institutions of higher education unless the institution (1) makes in-person instruction available to all students; and (2) allows students to opt out of COVID-19 requirements concerning vaccination, testing, and face covering. This restriction does not apply to distance education programs offered for reasons unrelated to COVID-19 or certain health-related educational programs. Additionally, the Department of Education must provide grants to parents for certain educational expenses, such as tuition at a private school, if their child lacks access to in-person instruction at a public elementary or secondary school due to COVID-19.
The bill also prohibits the use of federal funds to implement or enforce a system or plan for verifying an individual's COVID-19 vaccination status, such as vaccine passports.
