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H.R. 79

U.S. House•In House Committee

Summary

H.R. 79, the Freedom from Mandates Act, was introduced in the House on Jan 3, 2025 by Rep. Andy Biggs (R) with 3 co-sponsors. It was referred to Oversight And Government Reform, and last saw action on Jan 3, 2025: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committees on Education and Workforce, Energy and Commerce, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Record

Text

H.R. 79 has 3 co-sponsors.

hb79/introduced-in-house.txt
119 HR 79 IH: Freedom from Mandates Act
 U.S. House of Representatives
 2025-01-03
 text/xml
 EN
 Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
 I  119th CONGRESS  1st Session  H. R. 79  IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES   January 3, 2025   Mr. Biggs of Arizona  (for himself and  Mr. Cloud ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the  Committee on Oversight and Government Reform , and in addition to the Committees on  Education and Workforce ,  Energy and Commerce , and  Ways and Means , for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned   A BILL
To nullify certain Executive orders regarding COVID–19 vaccine mandates and to prohibit the Secretary of Labor from issuing a rule mandating vaccination against COVID–19, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Freedom from Mandates Act  .
2.
Nullification of certain Executive orders
(a)
Safety protocols for Federal Contractors
Executive Order 14042 (86 Fed. Reg. 50985, relating to ensuring adequate COVID–19 safety protocols for Federal contractors) shall have no force or effect.
(b)
COVID–
19  vaccine requirement
Executive Order 14043 (86 Fed. Reg. 50989, relating to requiring COVID–19 vaccination for Federal employees) shall have no force or effect.
3.
Prohibition of rules mandating vaccination
The Secretary of Labor may not issue any rule requiring employers to mandate vaccination of employees against COVID–19 or requiring testing of employees who are unvaccinated against COVID–19.
4.
Prohibition on Medicare and Medicaid COVID–19 vaccination mandates
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 require testing of employees who are unvaccinated against COVID–19, and may not otherwise penalize such a provider for such provider’s failure to so mandate such vaccination or so require such testing.

Tracker

The tracker indicates the progress of this legislation as it moves through the legislative process.

  1. Introduced2025-01-03
  2. Passed House
  3. Passed Senate
  4. Conference
  5. To President
  6. Became Law

CRS Summary

The summaries are the Congressional Research Service’s, one per stage. Read them in full.

Introduced in House Jan 3, 2025

hb79/introduced-in-house.md

Shown Here:
Introduced in House (01/03/2025)

Freedom from Mandates Act

This bill nullifies certain executive orders regarding COVID-19 safety and prohibits the Departments of Labor and Health and Human Services (HHS) from taking specified actions with respect to vaccination against COVID-19.

Specifically, the bill nullifies Executive Order 14042 (relating to ensuring adequate COVID-19 safety protocols for federal contractors) and Executive Order 14043 (requiring COVID-19 vaccination for federal employees).

Labor may not issue any rule requiring employers to mandate vaccination of employees against COVID-19 or requiring testing of employees who are unvaccinated.

HHS may not (1) 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 require testing of employees who are unvaccinated; or (2) otherwise penalize such a provider for failure to mandate such vaccination or require such testing.

Sponsors

Rep. Andy Biggs (R) sponsors H.R. 79, and 3 members have co-sponsored it, 1 of them from the day it was introduced.

Committees

H.R. 79 went before 4 committees: Ways and Means, Energy and Commerce, Education and Workforce and Oversight and Government Reform.

Ways and Means
Ways and Means
Referred To · Jan 3, 2025 · 1,160 Bills
Energy and Commerce
Energy and Commerce
Referred To · Jan 3, 2025 · 1,636 Bills
Education and Workforce
Education and Workforce
Referred To · Jan 3, 2025 · 824 Bills
Oversight and Government Reform
Oversight and Government Reform
Referred To · Jan 3, 2025 · 696 Bills

Actions

H.R. 79 has taken 2 actions since Jan 3, 2025.

ChamberAction
Jan 3, 2025
House
Introduced in House
Jan 3, 2025
House
Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committees on Education and Workforce, Energy and Commerce, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.Oversight and Government Reform Committee

Votes

H.R. 79 has not gone to a roll call.

Titles

H.R. 79 goes by 3 titles, 1 of them short titles.

  • Freedom from Mandates Act — Display Title
  • Freedom from Mandates Act — Short Title(s) as Introduced
  • To nullify certain Executive orders regarding COVID-19 vaccine mandates and to prohibit the Secretary of Labor from issuing a rule mandating vaccination against COVID-19, and for other purposes. — Official Title as Introduced

Classification

The Congressional Research Service files H.R. 79 under Government Operations and Politics, one of its 31 policy areas, and gives it 13 legislative subjects.

CRS Subjects

CRS assigns every bill one policy area from its 31; H.R. 79’s is Government Operations and Politics.

hr79/policy-areas.txt
Government Operations and PoliticsAgriculture and FoodAnimalsArmed Forces and National SecurityArts, Culture, ReligionCivil Rights and Liberties, Minority IssuesCommerceCongressCrime and Law EnforcementEconomics and Public FinanceEducationEmergency ManagementEnergyEnvironmental ProtectionFamiliesFinance and Financial SectorForeign Trade and International FinanceHealthHousing and Community DevelopmentImmigrationInternational AffairsLabor and EmploymentLawNative AmericansPublic Lands and Natural ResourcesScience, Technology, CommunicationsSocial WelfareSports and RecreationTaxationTransportation and Public WorksWater Resources Development

Legislative Subjects

H.R. 79 carries 13 of CRS’s legislative subjects, from Administrative law and regulatory procedures to Worker safety and health.

hr79/subjects.txt
Administrative law and regulatory proceduresCardiovascular and respiratory healthDepartment of LaborEmergency medical services and trauma careGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel managementImmunology and vaccinationInfectious and parasitic diseasesMedicaidMedical tests and diagnostic methodsMedicarePresidents and presidential powers, Vice PresidentsPublic contracts and procurementWorker safety and health

Constitutional authority

The clause the sponsor cites as Congress’s power to enact H.R. 79, as entered in the Congressional Record.

[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 1 (Friday, January 3, 2025)][House]From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]By Mr. BIGGS of Arizona:H.R. 79.Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuantto the following:Article I, Section 8The single subject of this legislation is:The single subject of this bill is to nullify certainExecutive Orders regarding COVID-19 vaccine mandates and toprohibit the Secretary of Labor from issuing a rule mandatingvaccination against COVID-19.[Page H38]

Source: congress.gov · legiscan.com