{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://fulcher.house.gov/2021/11/17/id-95e161f8-3440-4331-91b7-92d222eb7fa2/", "Rep. Fulcher, HFC Formally Oppose Funding Federal Government Over COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates", "2021-11-17", "2021", "2021-11", "Republican", "House", "ID", "Russ Fulcher", "F000469", "fulcher.house.gov", "fulcher", "https://fulcher.house.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "Contact:\n\nAlexah Rogge\n\n202-225-6611\n\nalexah.rogge@mail.house.gov\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, the House Freedom Caucus sent a letter to Speaker Pelosi stating their opposition to a continuing resolution, or any other government funding legislation, that federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates remain in place.\n\n\u201cAny government spending bill that continues funding the unconstitutional vaccine mandate is intolerable,\u201d said Congressman Andy Biggs \u201cAs members of Congress we have the power of the purse \u2013 it\u2019s time we start to use it to protect the livelihoods of the American people.\u201d\n\nThe letter comes just a few weeks before the December 3rd expiration of the current continuing resolution funding government.\n\n\u201cNo Member of Congress exercising their authority to control the \u201cpower of the purse\u201d under Article I of the Constitution of the United States should vote to fund an Executive Branch that is requiring unconstitutional vaccine mandates on American citizens in the private sector, or foolishly and wrongheadedly mandating the COVID-19 vaccination of government personnel,\u201d the letter explains.\n\nSee text of full letter below.\n\nDear Speaker Pelosi,\n\nPresident Biden and administration officials on his behalf have issued multiple executive orders and directives mandating COVID-19 vaccinations under threat of retribution that will cause the loss of livelihoods and endanger Americans. No Member of Congress exercising their authority to control the \u201cpower of the purse\u201d under Article I of the Constitution of the United States should vote to fund an Executive Branch that is requiring unconstitutional vaccine mandates on American citizens in the private sector, or foolishly and wrongheadedly mandating the COVID-19 vaccination of government personnel.\n\nFederal vaccine mandates will only further divide America and harm our national security. For example, thousands of men and women in uniform are thus far choosing not to meet the recent COVID-19 vaccination requirements imposed by DoD. It is absurd to threaten to discharge \u2013 honorably or dishonorably \u2013 anyone in our military for making that choice. In addition, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) could lose hundreds, or even thousands, of its border patrol agents due to federal vaccination requirements while our southern border is in crisis. The same is true for countless law enforcement and other personnel, as well as defense and other federal contractors across multiple agencies and industries.\n\nMoreover, at a time when our nation\u2019s supply chains are at a breaking point, and our nation is suffering a labor shortage, reports have indicated that 72% of unvaccinated workers vow to quit if ordered to get vaccinated \u2013 a number that includes truckers, firefighters, police officers, and healthcare workers. Indeed, our health care systems are going to be greatly impacted. Hospitals are already short staffed. Nursing homes may be forced to close due to a lack of sufficient staff. Where do patients go when they can no longer use the facilities that have long served them and are the only ones available in their community?\n\nCongress must oppose these COVID-19 mandates \u2013 OSHA, federal employees (including DoD), federal contractors, CMS, and others. Please be advised (in advance of the December 3rd expiration of the current continuing resolution funding government) that \u2013 in addition to any other objections to government funding we reserve the right to make \u2013 we will not vote for a continuing resolution, or any other government funding legislation, while any federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates remain in place.\n\nSincerely,\n\nMembers of the House Freedom Caucus\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://fulcher.house.gov/2021/11/17/id-95e161f8-3440-4331-91b7-92d222eb7fa2/"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.073577906936407, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}