Federal: HR79

Bill Summary

US HR 79, the Freedom from Mandates Act, would nullify Executive Orders 14042 and 14043 related to COVID-19 vaccine requirements and prohibit federal agencies from mandating COVID-19 vaccination or testing. Specifically, the bill would invalidate vaccine mandates for federal contractors and federal employees, and prevent the Secretary of Labor and Secretary of Health and Human Services from issuing rules that mandate COVID-19 vaccination or testing for employees in private sector workplaces or healthcare providers participating in Medicare or Medicaid. The bill aims to remove existing federal vaccine mandate policies across multiple sectors by restricting the government's ability to implement such requirements going forward.

Why It Matters to MAHA

MAHA strongly supports this bill because it directly advances health freedom and patient autonomy by preventing government-imposed vaccine mandates that restrict individual choice and informed consent. The bill eliminates coercive federal policies that forced workers to choose between their livelihoods and medical decisions, violating the core MAHA principle that individuals should retain control over their own healthcare decisions without government coercion. By prohibiting the Secretary of Labor and HHS from issuing new mandate rules, the bill prevents future restrictions on medical freedom and protects workers' rights to make autonomous health choices. This legislation aligns with MAHA's commitment to transparency and removing regulatory barriers that override patient choice and bodily autonomy.