The GOP-led U.S. House of Representatives passed the “Pandemic is Over Act” Tuesday in a 220-210 vote. The legislation, H.R. 497, would end the Public Health Emergency (PHE) on the date of enactment and forces the Biden Administration to be transparent with the American people if he needs further authority.
🚨 BREAKING → The House Republican Majority just passed a bill to eliminate the authoritarian COVID vaccine mandate on health care workers that destroyed many of their livelihoods.
— Steve Scalise (@SteveScalise) January 31, 2023
Every member of the Alabama GOP congressional delegation voted in favor of the bill.
U.S. Rep. Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) praised the bill in a press release.
“To continue his authoritarian policies, President Biden recently authorized the 12th extension of the COVID-19 public health emergency declaration almost six months after unequivocally admitting the pandemic was over,” said Moore. “Now after pushback from House Republicans and the American people, Biden has said he will end the declaration in May – four months from now and far too late. The American people know the pandemic is over, and it’s time for the federal government to quit fearmongering in an attempt to prolong its power grab and end its persecution of the same nurses and healthcare workers it hailed as heroes when politically convenient.”
U.S. Rep. Jerry Carl (R-Mobile) said on Twitter that the House GOP “took a step in the right direction.”
Today @HouseGOP took a step in the right direction as we passed the Freedom for Health Care Workers Act and the Pandemic is Over Act. These bills end the vaccine mandate on health care workers and end the COVID-19 public health emergency. https://t.co/uu1xV5EvOp
— Rep. Jerry Carl (@RepJerryCarl) January 31, 2023
U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Saks) said he is “proud to support” the bill.
I’m proud to support H.R. 382 – the Pandemic is Over Act – to end the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, which Biden himself admitted was over months ago.https://t.co/NqtkbgPPVI
— Mike Rogers (@RepMikeRogersAL) January 31, 2023
Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on Twitter @Yaffee