{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-diana-harshbarger-introduces-bill-require-federal-agencies", "Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger Introduces Bill to Require Federal Agencies to Acknowledge Natural Immunity to COVID-19", "2021-10-18", "2021", "2021-10", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Diana Harshbarger", "H001086", "harshbarger.house.gov", "harshbarger", "https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger introduced the Natural Immunity is Real Act in the House of Representatives. This bill requires Federal agencies to take into account naturally acquired immunity from previous COVID-19 infection when issuing any rules or regulations aimed at protecting from COVID-19.\n\n\u201cI introduced this bill today because the Biden Administration must \u2018follow the science\u2019 and be open, honest and transparent about the millions of Americans who have natural immunity against the COVID-19 virus,\u201d said Congresswoman Harshbarger. \u201cThere\u2019s ample scientific evidence from numerous peer-reviewed studies that natural immunity from previous COVID-19 infection is effective, durable and long-lasting. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has already acknowledged natural immunity for measles, chickenpox, and many other viruses.\n\n\u201cI\u2019ve always said we need to use all the clinical tools as protection and treatment options to combat COVID-19. However, my bill is a necessary and timely legislative action resulting from President Biden\u2019s continued politicization of COVID-19 which continues to create deep divisions among Americans, such as when he chillingly said his national vaccine mandate requirements are \u2018not about freedom or personal choice.\u2019 Now more than ever, we need to pursue every scientific measure \u2014 such as natural immunity \u2014 that can help mitigate the pandemic without threatening people\u2019s jobs, our economy, or denying Americans access to everyday life activities based on COVID-19 vaccination status.\u201d\n\nOriginal co-sponsors include Representatives Daniel Webster (R-FL), Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ), Chris Stewart (R-UT), Bill Posey (R-FL), Mary Miller (R-IL), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), Dan Bishop (R-NC), Mo Brooks (R-AL), Madison Cawthorn (R-NC), and Chip Roy (R-TX).\n\n\u201cToo many medical leaders are refusing to publicly recognize what overwhelming data has already shown - protection afforded to individuals with natural immunity is real, robust and durable,\u201d said Congressman Daniel Webster. \u201cDenying science only contributes to existing confusion, misinformation, and mistrust among the American people. This bill helps restore trust and faith in the Public Health system, while maintaining our fight against COVID-19.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe are over a year and a half into the COVID-19 pandemic and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has failed to recognize the effectiveness of natural immunity,\u201d said Congressman Jeff Van Drew. \u201cWe know vaccines work, but natural immunity could be equally or similarly as effective in certain individuals. If the CDC would devote time into its research, we would have robust, evidence-based research that could help America finally move on from this virus.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis bill\u2019s very introduction is proof of the Biden Administration\u2019s inconsistency on COVID-19,\u201d said Rep. Chris Stewart. \u201cWe\u2019re simply asking that President Biden practice what he preaches and actually \u2018follow the science.\u2019 These two statements are not mutually exclusive, and in fact are both true: The vaccine offers effective protection against COVID-19; natural immunity offers effective protection against COVID-19. Today, all we\u2019re doing is asking President Biden to acknowledge that reality and be honest with the American people.\u201d\n\n\u201cNo American should be forced to choose between getting the COVID vaccine or keeping their job, particularly when the Biden policy fails to recognize that millions of Americans have immunity because they\u2019ve already had and recovered from COVID,\u201d said Rep. Bill Posey.\n\nThe Senate version of the bill was introduced by Senator Mike Lee of Utah.\n\nThe text of the bill can be found here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:24:51Z"]], "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://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-diana-harshbarger-introduces-bill-require-federal-agencies"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.6736469697207212, "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"}