Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “COVID–19 Individual Liberty Act of 2021”.
COVID–19 Individual Liberty Act of 2021
A BILL
To prohibit federally funded COVID–19 vaccine mandates, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Table of contents
The table of contents of this Act:
Sec. 3 Vaccine mandate for Federal contractors and subcontractors
In general— Executive Order 14042 (86 Fed. Reg. 50985; relating to ensuring adequate COVID safety protocols for Federal contractors) shall have no force or effect.
Effective date— This section shall take effect as if enacted on September 9, 2021.
Sec. 4 Nullification of vaccine mandate for executive branch employees
In general— Executive Order 14043 (86 Fed. Reg. 50989; relating to requiring coronavirus disease 2019 vaccination for Federal employees) shall have no force or effect.
Effective date— This section shall take effect as if enacted on September 14, 2021.
Sec. 5 No Federal funding for COVID–19 vaccine mandates
In general— No Federal funds may be used to implement or enforce (including through promulgation of any rule) a COVID–19 vaccine mandate.
Definitions— In this section:
COVID–19 vaccine— The term COVID–19 vaccine means an immunization that is intended to prevent or mitigate COVID–19.
COVID–19 vaccine mandate— The term COVID–19 vaccine mandate means any requirement that an individual receive a COVID–19 vaccine, including—
any such requirement as a condition on becoming or remaining a Federal employee, contractor, or subcontractor; or
any requirement that a non-Federal employer require an employee, contractor, or subcontractor thereof to receive a COVID–19 vaccine.
Non-Federal employer— The term non-Federal employer—
means any person (other than the Federal Government) engaged in a business in or affecting interstate commerce; and
includes a State or political subdivision of a State to the extent it is engaged in such a business.
Sec. 6 Prohibition on implementation of COVID–19 vaccination mandate under the Medicare and Medicaid programs
Notwithstanding any provision of title XI, XVIII, or XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1301 et seq., 1395 et seq., 1396 et seq.), the Secretary of Health and Human Services may not—
require a health care provider, as a condition of participation in the Medicare or Medicaid program, to mandate vaccination of employees against COVID–19; or
otherwise penalize such a provider for such provider’s failure to so mandate such vaccination.
Sec. 7 Guidelines on natural immunity as a suitable alternative to being fully vaccinated
Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall publish guidelines on the extent to which natural immunity provides protection from contracting or spreading COVID–19 that is at least equivalent to the immunity provided by vaccination.
Sec. 8 Prohibition against Federal issuance of, or discrimination based on vaccine passports
Federal Government— The Federal Government shall not—
issue any vaccine passport; or
discriminate against any person by requiring documentation certifying COVID–19 vaccination, or post-transmission recovery, as a condition on the provision of any service or benefit.
State, Tribal, and local governments—
Prohibition— As a condition on receipt of any Federal funds made available by or under any of the Acts listed in paragraph (2), no State, Tribal, or local government shall—
issue any vaccine passport; or
discriminate against any person by requiring documentation certifying COVID–19 vaccination, or post-transmission recovery, as a condition on the provision of any service or benefit.
Specified Acts— The Acts listed in this paragraph are the following:
The Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020 (Public Law 116–123).
The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (Public Law 116–127).
The CARES Act (Public Law 116–136).
The Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act (Public Law 116–139).
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Public Law 117–2).
Exception— Paragraph (1) does not apply with respect to a school, including any kindergarten, elementary school, secondary school, and institution of higher education.
Definition— In this section, the term vaccine passport—
means any standardized documentation for the purpose of certifying an individual’s COVID–19 vaccination status to a third party; and
excludes any documentation to the extent it is issued for the purpose of health care records.