Norton Condemns 8th Attack by Republicans on D.C. Vaccine Mandates; Motion Was Defeated
Press Release
Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today condemned the motion filed by Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) to commit the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, which has jurisdiction over D.C., to block the District of Columbia from using funds to enforce its COVID-19 vaccine mandate for students. The motion was defeated in the Senate 49-51. Without statehood, D.C. could have its vaccine laws, including its vaccine mandate for D.C. students, overturned by Congress. Norton has defeated all the attacks on D.C. vaccine mandates.
"Republicans, who profess to support local control of local affairs, are trying to use the federal government's undemocratic power over D.C. to dictate local D.C. policy," Norton said. "D.C.'s duly elected local government adopted the vaccine mandates, and no Member of Congress has the right to interfere in these policy decisions. Until my D.C. statehood bill is enacted, Republicans will continue to interfere in D.C.'s laws and budget."
This is the 8th attack on D.C. vaccine mandates this Congress:
49 House and Senate Republicans sent a letter demanding Congress defund the enforcement of both federal and District of Columbia COVID-19 vaccine mandate in the next fiscal year 2022 appropriations bill or they will vote against the bill.
Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) introduced a bill that would nullify D.C.'s requirements that individuals present documentation of COVID-19 vaccination to enter certain facilities and that students receive COVID-19 vaccination.
Representative Matt Gaetz (R-FL) introduced a bill that would nullify D.C.'s requirement that individuals present documentation of COVID-19 vaccination to enter certain facilities.
Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) introduced a disapproval resolution that would block D.C.'s requirement that students receive COVID-19 vaccination.
Representative Pat Fallon (R-TX) introduced a bill that would prohibit D.C. from requiring an individual to present documentation of COVID-19 vaccination to enter any building, facility or other venue.
Representative Michael Cloud (R-TX) and Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced a disapproval resolution that would have blocked D.C.'s bill that permits minors to receive a vaccination without parental consent. Norton defeated this resolution, which has since expired, and D.C.'s bill is now law.
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