FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
January 19, 2022
Contact: Press_Paul@paul.senate.gov, 202-224-4343

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday afternoon, U.S. Senator and physician Rand Paul (R-KY) introduced legislation to overturn the COVID-19 vaccination requirements on consumers and students imposed by the District of Columbia. Dr. Paul’s bill, the Restore Parental and Consumer Medical Rights in the Nation’s Capital Act will repeal the mandate requiring a vaccine to enter any indoor food and drink establishments, indoor cultural and entertainment establishments, indoor exercise and recreational facilities, indoor event and meeting establishments, and any other indoor establishment designated by the Director of the DC Department of Health in the District as well as the D.C. student vaccine mandate.

The legislation is cosponsored by Senators Rick Scott (R-FL), James Lankford (R-OK), Roger Wicker (R-MS), and Kevin Cramer (R-ND).

“Enacting a vaccine mandate that infringes upon the right of parents to make medical decisions for their children and the personal liberties of consumers, in the capital of what is supposed to be the freest country in the world, doesn’t sound like freedom at all,” said Dr. Rand Paul. “My legislation would stop these ridiculous, unscientific mandates and restore individual and parental rights in the District.”

Senator Rick Scott said, “Forcing an unconstitutional vaccine mandate that strips parents of their rights to make medical decisions for their children and takes away freedoms of consumers has no place in our nation’s capital. I got COVID, I got the vaccine and I encourage everyone to talk to their doctors and make informed decisions, but I will never support a mandate that takes decisions out of the hands of hardworking American families. The government has no right to tell Americans what health care decisions they must make in order to live, work and raise a family in the District of Columbia and I urge my colleagues to support this important bill.”

“Americans should not be required to show personal medical records just to eat at a restaurant or work out at the gym. These are decisions best left to individuals, their doctors, and businesses themselves, not mandates by the government,” said Senator Cramer.

“Democrats who can’t get their way tend to use the District of Columbia as the proving ground for their dangerous and unpopular ideas, including the latest move from the DC Mayor and City Council to force people to present proof of vaccination to go about daily life, including going to restaurants, school, and work,” said Senator Lankford. “DC is the people’s Capital. Any Oklahoman who wants to visit the capital city will also have to show proof of vaccination to do something as basic as going to eat. Democrats want to force people to show a vaccine card and ID to eat at a restaurant, but they scream to the high heavens that it’s voter suppression when states require simple IDs to prove a person can lawfully vote.”

Dr. Paul’s legislation specifically repeals the following:

1. Order 2021-148 issued by the Mayor of the District of Columbia on December 22, 2021.
2. The Coronavirus Immunization of School Students and Early Childhood Workers Amendment Act of 2021 (D.C. Act 24-285), enacted by the District of Columbia Council on January 12, 2022.

You can read a copy of the Restore Parental and Consumer Medical Rights in the Nation’s Capital Act HERE.

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