Rep. Ralph Norman Introduces Legislation To Safeguard Religious Exemptions at Higher Education Institutions with Covid Vaccine Mandates

Press Release

On Monday, Congressman Ralph Norman (R-SC-5) introduced H.R. 5967, a bill to ensure higher education institutions provide an opportunity for religious exemption from COVID-19 vaccine requirements.

Specifically, this bill would hold public colleges and universities accountable by:

(1) Assuring reasonable opportunity is provided for an individual to receive religious exemption from such vaccination requirement and require schools to notify students and employees about the exemption process using accessible forms of communication.

(2) Permitting the Secretary of Education to withhold funding from the school contingent upon a report to the Department of Education denoting their rationale for denying religious exemption requests and evidence demonstrating how such religious exemption would place an undue hardship on the school.

Original co-sponsors of H.R. 5967 are Representatives Jeff Duncan (R-SC), Brian Babin (R-TX), Bob Good (R-VA), Doug Lamborn (R-CO), and Mary Miller (R-IL).

Following the introduction of the bill, Rep. Norman issued the following statement: "Students' education should not be disrupted or compromised because of COVID-19 vaccine mandates. At a time of so much uncertainty, it is vital we protect the freedom of medical choice for our students, especially where religion is concerned. The students, not the school administrators, should have sole responsibility and decision making power over whether or not they choose to receive the vaccine."

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