Last week, U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., brought out the “Prevent Unconstitutional Vaccine Mandates for Interstate Commerce Act.”
Scott’s office offered some of the reasons why he had introduced the proposal.
“As the Biden administration is reportedly considering enforcing vaccine mandates for businesses merely seeking to engage in interstate commerce, the Prevent Unconstitutional Vaccine Mandates for Interstate Commerce Act 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,” Scott’s office noted.
The bill would prevent the U.S. Department of Transportation, the U.S. Department of Commerce, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (better known as “Amtrak”), the Surface Transportation Board, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Maritime Commission “from requiring Americans to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination to engage in interstate commerce or travel.”
“While American businesses are working hard to recover from the devastating impacts of COVID-19, President Biden is set on implementing more mandates, lockdowns and restrictions that are holding them back. I got the COVID-19 vaccine, and encourage everyone who feels comfortable to get it too, but government has no business pushing mandates on the American people and our hardworking businesses. It’s the government’s job to inform Americans and then let every family make the right choices that will keep themselves, their businesses and their employees safe. My Prevent Unconstitutional Vaccine Mandates for Interstate Commerce Act ensures that the Biden administration cannot require anyone to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination to do business across state borders, and protects Americans’ rights and privacy,” Scott said.
Republican U.S. Sens. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, Mike Lee of Utah, Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming and Roger Marshall of Kansas are co-sponsoring the bill.
Scott’s bill was sent to the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee.
U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas, is championing the companion measure in the U.S. House.
“The last thing that Americans need right now is another mandate that further prevents hardworking citizens from having the freedom to live their lives. Americans should have the right to make the best decision for themselves when it comes to getting the COVID vaccine. As lawmakers, what we need to do is educate the public in an honest way about the vaccine, and then allow them to make the choice for themselves. President Biden’s vaccine mandate is a cheap, unconstitutional overreach of governance and we will not stand by while it happens,” said Crenshaw.
Crenshaw’s bill was sent to the U.S. House Energy and Commerce, Transportation and Infrastructure and the Homeland Security Committees.
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