U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer (R-Hoover), along with a number of his GOP colleagues, sent a letter to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) stating their opposition to the federal vaccine mandate for businesses.
In the letter sent to OSHA Secretary Doug Parker, Palmer and his colleagues stated that “many individuals have expressed a sincerely held religious objection to the COVID-19 vaccine.” They further proclaimed that the mandate is “unconstitutional” and “un-American.”
In announcing the letter, Palmer asserted that Americans’ religious liberty should be protected.
“Unfortunately, this Administration must be reminded that religious rights and other freedoms are not forfeited during a pandemic,” declared Palmer. “The employer-employee relationship does not need intervention from a third federal party. Employees need their individual rights to be protected, not trampled upon by the government.”
A federally imposed vaccine mandate is completely unconstitutional. At the very least, government should recognize and defend the rights of those who decide to refuse it. My full statement and letter to Secretary Parker here:https://t.co/wH3an3lhGb
— Gary Palmer (@USRepGaryPalmer) November 1, 2021
The congressman indicated that citizens who hold religious objections to the vaccine should not be forced to partake in a treatment that is antithetical to their beliefs.
“I firmly believe this mandate is unconstitutional, and at the very least, we need to defend the rights of individuals who, for whatever deeply held beliefs, decide to refuse it,” he added. “No one should be forced to choose between providing for their families and violating their conscience. Religious and other conscience exemptions are at the heart of the Constitution, which this Administration and every Member of Congress swore an oath to uphold and defend.”
Palmer concluded, “This letter from my colleagues and me insists that at the least, individuals’ freedoms must be respected and maintained when regulations on the mandate are finalized and published.”
Dylan Smith is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL
Don’t miss out! Subscribe today to have Alabama’s leading headlines delivered to your inbox.