This bill prohibits entities receiving federal COVID-19 relief funds from mandating employee COVID-19 vaccinations, requiring repayment of funds for non-compliance.
Andy Biggs
Representative
AZ-5
This bill stops organizations that get federal COVID relief money from requiring their employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Any organization that violates this rule will be required to return all COVID relief funds to the federal government. This restriction applies to funds from relief packages like the CARES Act and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
Federal COVID Relief Recipients Banned from Mandating Employee Vaccinations: Funds Must Be Returned if Violated
The proposed bill flat-out prohibits any organization that's received federal COVID relief money from requiring its employees to get a COVID-19 vaccine. This isn't just about future funding – if an organization violates this rule, they're required to return all the relief funds they've received. This covers a wide range of relief packages, including the big ones like the CARES Act and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Section 1).
Strings Attached
This bill directly ties COVID relief funding to employee vaccination policies. Basically, if you took the money, you can't force your workers to get the shot. The immediate effect is that employees in organizations relying on these funds gain a layer of protection against mandatory vaccination policies. For example, imagine a local bakery that received a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan. Under this bill, they can't make vaccination a condition of employment – even if they believe it's crucial for workplace safety.
Real-World Ripple Effects
The bill is supporting individual choice in medical decisions, which is a big win for some. It also means potential protection against what some might see as employment discrimination based on vaccination status. So, if you're working at a place that got COVID relief and you're hesitant about the vaccine, this bill essentially backs your right to choose.
However, there are practical challenges. The bill doesn't address what happens if there's an outbreak at a workplace because of unvaccinated employees. Who's liable? The bill doesn't say. Also, organizations might try to get around this by, say, strongly encouraging vaccination instead of outright mandating it. Where that line gets drawn could be a real headache.
The Bottom Line
This bill is a balancing act. It's prioritizing individual freedom when it comes to vaccination, but it also potentially impacts broader public health efforts. It fits into the bigger picture by interacting with existing laws around federal funding and workplace safety, but it definitely adds a new wrinkle to how organizations can manage their workforce in the wake of the pandemic.