Sens. Marshall, Cramer, Lee, Braun Aim to Drop Vax Mandate for International Workers, Visitors

(Washington, D.C., February 15, 2023) – Today U.S. Senators Roger Marshall, M.D. (KS), Kevin Cramer (ND), Mike Lee (UT), and Mike Braun (IN) introduced the Travel Freedom Act, new legislation that repeals federal policies requiring international travelers to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination for entrance into the United States. As a result of these policies, the flow of goods between the United States and Canada has slowed significantly and foreign individuals are prevented from visiting their American family members, among other issues.

“Millions of individuals, including many involved in the North American supply chain, need to legally travel in and out of the United States on a regular basis for their jobs. Requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination for a work-related commute or responsibility is an unnecessary headache, but, for the Biden administration, vaccine politics come before the American economy,” said Senator Marshall. “Our legislation puts an end to this madness and reopens the United States for business to all individuals, regardless of their vaccination status. President Biden’s irrational COVID-19 vaccine mandate has come in many forms throughout his presidency, but I will always be there to stand against his cynical attempts to force anyone into a vaccination they do not want to receive.”

“The Biden Administration’s unnecessary COVID-19 mandates have slowed the flow of goods and services. As a Northern border state, North Dakotans know this better than most as so many of our businesses and communities are intertwined with Canada,” said Senator Cramer. “Our state relies on commerce and visitors from our neighbors to the north. This bill would rightfully repeal the vaccine mandate for travelers, which the Biden Administration should have done a long time ago.”

“To quote President Biden, ‘the Pandemic is over.’ Despite the efforts of most to move on from restrictive COVID-era policies, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) still requires foreign travelers entering the United States to provide proof that they have received the COVID-19 vaccine. This archaic policy prevents family members from seeing each other and slows the flow of goods between countries. The United States is open for business, and it’s time that our policies reflect that,” said Senator Lee.

“The pandemic is over. The Biden administration should not continue to mandate vaccine passports and reopen the United States to international travel and economic growth regardless of vaccination status,” said Senator Braun.

You may click HERE to read to the Travel Freedom Act. 

Background:

Currently, an order from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) mandates that any foreign individual visiting the United States via air travel must provide documentation of COVID-19 vaccination in order to lawfully enter the United States. Additionally, an order from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) requires foreign travelers entering via land or sea along the U.S.-Canada border to prove their COVID-19 vaccination status to gain entrance to the United States. The Travel Freedom Act nullifies these orders and prohibits future orders of this nature by the American government.

Senator Marshall has long been a strong leader in opposing the Biden administration’s COVID-19 vaccine mandates. To date, the Senator has helped get laws across the finish line that outlaw coronavirus vaccine mandates for America’s servicemembers and protect servicemembers from receiving a dishonorable discharge for choosing not to get the COVID vaccine. Additionally, a resolution authored by Senator Marshall to block vaccine mandates for health care workers passed the U.S. Senate, and Senator Marshall introduced separate bills to exempt non-U.S. citizen commercial truck drivers from proof of vaccination requirements and to prohibit funding for the Biden administration to advance its COVID vaccine mandate on private companies.

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