Dear Neighbors,
Yesterday, the Biden administration released the long-awaited details on the vaccine and testing mandates they are placing on private businesses and for health care workers at facilities who care for Medicare recipients.
I have long been clear about my opposition to vaccine mandates and believe that personal health decisions should be left between individuals and their health care providers. There are already dozens of lawsuits that have been filed challenging the constitutionality of this executive order. I eagerly await each of these lawsuits being adjudicated by the courts.
Here’s a summary of the details released this week:
- The Centers for Medicare and Medicare Services (CMS) will require all employees of health care facilities to receive the COVID-19 vaccine as a condition of the facility participating in Medicare or Medicaid. The first dose must be administered by December 5, and the second dose by January 4th. Exemptions for medical and religious reasons are allowed.
- OSHA issued an emergency order that requires all employers of 100 or more to create a vaccine requirement for employees. Employers may offer employees the option of weekly testing and masking at work instead of being vaccinated. Medical and religious exemptions are also allowed.
Despite the “emergency”, enforcement dates are still months away and the administration already delayed enforcement of the federal contractor mandate that was set to begin on December 8th.
With vaccination rates already high, widely available, and the pandemic waning, this mandate from the Biden administration serves little purpose other than to further divide the American people.
Stay tuned on this as legal developments emerge in the weeks and months ahead.
Staying in Touch
Please do not hesitate to reach out to me to share your thoughts, questions, and concerns as it relates to state government. I can be reached at 651-296-4229 or via email at rep.glenn.gruenhagen@house.mn.
Have a great day,
Glenn