Rep. Duncan Leads GOP in Opposing Biden's CMS Vaccine Mandate

Statement

Congressman Jeff Duncan continues his charge against federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates, specifically as it related to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) employees, with his recent resolution under the Congressional Review Act (CRA) that will halt President Biden's harmful mandate for virtually all healthcare employees. Resolutions under the CRA are privileged under Congressional rules to ensure Congress is able to keep the Executive branch accountable. A CRA resolution requires a simple majority threshold to pass the House and Senate.

"We are concerned that if the Biden Administration moves forward with their vaccine mandate for medical personnel, the resulting staff shortages could actually cost lives instead of saving them," said Congressman Jeff Duncan. "I initially brought up this concern in September in a letter to President Biden, but it is evident the Biden Administration has not considered the practicality, efficacy, and morality of a COVID-19 vaccination mandate for staff within all Medicare and Medicaid-certified facilities."

"I oppose vaccine mandates in all forms. Employees should never be forced to choose between receiving a shot or losing their livelihood," said Congressman Jeff Duncan. "Furthermore, this shortsighted mandate has the potential to exacerbate the current healthcare workforce shortage in a time when many states have hospitals that are at or exceeding capacity, and healthcare providers, especially nursing homes are struggling to hire and maintain staff. The Biden administration pushes for mandates without any regard for the negative implications. The goal of any of these policies should be to save lives, and I fail to see how further reducing our healthcare workforce accomplishes this mission. Our medical professionals who served on the frontlines during the pandemic are now being told to get the shot or get out, and the Biden Administration has failed to consider the implications of such an overreaching mandate on our nation's healthcare system. As we fight this legislatively, South Carolina and states across the country are leading the legal fight through challenging the Biden Administration's vaccine mandate overreach through lawsuits."

"The Biden Administration's CMS vaccine mandate is a slap in the face to the hard-working men and women who never took a day off in the frontline fight of the COVID-19 battle. These heroes of the pandemic are being fired and treated like villains for choosing not to take the COVID vaccine, despite many of them having immunity through natural infection. As a physician, I'm confident the vaccine has saved lives; however, whether to receive it is a personal choice between individuals and their doctor -- not mandated via executive actions," said Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. "With this CRA, Rep. Duncan and I are continuing to do everything in our power to fight for those who ran to the sound of the battle -- for these are the true heroes of the pandemic and deserve our best fight and utmost respect."

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