All 50 Senate Democrats Vote Against Defunding Vaccine Mandates

(Washington, D.C., December 2, 2021) – Tonight, all 50 Senate Democrats voted against an amendment offered by U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. that would have defunded each of Joe Biden’s COVID vaccine mandates. The votes come on the heels of the Administration acknowledging earlier this year they didn’t have authority to put the mandates in place; multiple federal courts putting a stop to the OSHA mandate, as well as the federal contractor and CMS mandates; and the White House even delaying implementation of their mandate for federal workers until after the Holidays. In remarks on the Senate floor prior to the vote, Senator Marshall said in part,

“…This is an opportunity to right a wrong for each member in this body. Let’s give employers certainty and employees peace of mind that they will still have a job this new year! Make no mistake: These vaccine mandates are not about public health or science. If they were, the White House would recognize the 92% of Americans who have already built up immunity to this virus between vaccines and natural immunity…

You may click HERE or on the image below to watch Senator Marshall’s remarks.

Senator Marshall’s remarks as prepared:

This amendment is simple: it prohibits moneys from this bill to be used to fund or enforce the White House’s COVID vaccine mandates on the American people for the duration of the CR.

As a physician, I have always supported the vaccine and I encourage Americans to talk to their doctor about getting vaccinated and about the booster.

But… Whether to receive the vaccine or not is a personal choice – it should not be mandated via unconstitutional executive actions that the Administration acknowledged earlier this year they didn’t have authority to put in place!

No precedent exists in American history for punishing private employers who don’t enforce government vaccination edicts.

As we all know multiple federal courts have put a stop to the OSHA mandate, as well as the federal contractor and CMS mandates.

What’s more? The White House even delayed implementing their mandate for federal workers until after the Holidays!

Mr./Madam President. This is an opportunity to right a wrong for each member in this body. Let’s give employers certainty and employees peace of mind that they will still have a job this new year!

Make no mistake: These vaccine mandates are not about public health or science. If they were, the White House would recognize the 92% of Americans who have already built up immunity to this virus between vaccines and natural immunity.

Beside me is a photo of upset union workers I met in Topeka Kansas. These are the people that keep our electricity on and our houses warm in the winter. These are hardworking Americans who have put their lives on the line throughout the pandemic.

Tonight, I am their voice and I’m proud to be here and to keep fighting for them, for their families, and their right to earn a living in the greatest country in the world.

Tonight I ask my colleagues to join this fight and support this amendment and avoid an economic shutdown, brown outs, further supply chain disruptions, labor shortage, higher inflation, and weaken our national security.

Thank you Mr./Madam President. I yield back.

Background:

Senator Marshall has been leading the fight in the U.S. Senate to halt President Biden’s vaccine mandate and to get the Administration to recognize the importance natural immunity.

Following numerous roundtable discussions in Kansas City, Topeka, and Wichita with union workers who are literally faced with the decision of job or jab, Senator Marshall requested leaders of the Senate HELP, Agriculture, Small Business, and Energy Committees to hold hearings with Kansas union workers to discuss the vaccine mandates. These workers are at risk of losing their jobs over the mandate and in turn further exacerbating the labor shortage and supply chain crisis, and further stifling economic recovery. You may click HERE or on the image below for a recap video of Senator Marshall’s visits with union workers.

In September, Senator Marshall spoke on the Senate floor about an amendment he offered to the government spending package to prohibit funding for implementing or enforcing the Biden Administration’s COVID vaccine mandate on private companies. All 50 Senate Republicans supported Senator Marshall’s amendment. You may click HERE to watch Senator Marshall’s remarks.

Senator Marshall introduced the COVID-19 Vaccine Dishonorable Discharge Prevention Act to prohibit the Department of Defense from giving servicemembers a dishonorable discharge for choosing not to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Senator Marshall also introduced this as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act. You may click HERE or on the image below to watch a highlight video of Senator Marshall’s efforts on this front.

In opposition to Biden’s vaccine mandate on businesses, Senator Marshall joined his colleagues in demanding a Congressional Review of President Joe Biden’s vaccine mandate on private employees before it goes into effect and oppose this unlawful, unnecessary federal command.

Senator Marshall joined his colleagues to introduce the Prevent Unconstitutional Vaccine Mandates for Interstate Commerce Act. As the Biden Administration is working to enforce vaccine mandates for businesses merely seeking to engage in interstate commerce, the legislation would protect the privacy of Americans’ personal health information and prohibit the Department of Transportation and other federal agencies from requiring proof of vaccination or the use of a vaccine passport for such activities.

Senator Marshall helped introduce the Keeping Our COVID-19 Heroes Employed Act to save essential workers from being fired due to President Biden’s sweeping vaccine mandate.

Senator Marshall questioned U.S. Department of Labor Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training nominee Jose Javier Rodriguez recently on how he plans to handle the upcoming spike in unemployment rates caused by President Biden’s vaccine mandate. You may click HERE to watch the exchange.

Senator Marshall questioned U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra and U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona on their intent to mandate vaccines for students in public schools despite the possibility of the CDC acknowledging natural immunity. You may click HERE to watch the exchange.

Senator Marshall penned an op-ed for The Hill, highlighting the importance of T-cell testing and natural immunity research in helping parents make informed decisions on COVID-19 vaccinations.

Senator Marshall led a letter with 14 other health care providers in Congress to the CDC urging the agency to acknowledge natural immunity from COVID-19. The letter also urges the CDC to work with other federal agencies to ensure all future policies and federally-funded research take into account natural immunity.

###