Yesterday, I joined Texans for Responsible Government (TRG) in signing on to an amicus brief to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit Court.
As a registered nurse, I know and understand that informed consent for medical care is fundamental in both ethics and law.
Consent must be voluntary, without coercion or duress.
With this action, I am objecting to the Biden Administration’s overreaching and unprecedented vaccine mandate.
Initially, President Biden said that he would not impose vaccination mandates, yet he has now betrayed his promise, and his actions trample on our constitutional freedoms.
These draconian mandates remove our voice in making our medical decisions, set a dangerous precedent, and must be opposed. No Texan should be forced to choose between keeping their job and protecting their medical freedom.
The mandate that would affect 84 million workers was developed and is being enforced by the U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
The amicus brief filed by TRG and almost all of my Republican House colleagues challenges the constitutionality of the mandate and calls for it to be overturned.
During the recent special session, I signed on to two bills concerning vaccine mandates, including serving as a Joint Author of HB 155 with Dr. Tom Oliverson.I support any and all strategies which help fight these mandates, including a fourth special session.
The reality, however, is that per our State Constitution, any action taken by the legislature will not take effect for 90 days unless the measure receives 100 votes. With only 85 Republicans in the Texas House, that is highly unlikely. Given the timeframe, that is why I believe seeking relief through the courts is our best option.
The vaccine mandate issued by OSHA would compel private businesses with 100 employees or more to require all employees to be vaccinated by January 4, 2022 or face weekly COVID-19 testing. More than half the states, including Texas, have filed lawsuits challenging President Biden’s vaccine mandate.
Thank you for the privilege of serving you in the Texas House of Representatives and serving as your voice in these matters.
