The U.S. Senate last week voted to overturn President Joe Biden’s health care workforce vaccine mandate in a 49-44 vote along party lines.
Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS) introduced the legislation in December, according to Cramer’s website, but the vote was considered largely symbolic. The Congressional Review Act is a tool Congress can use to overturn some federal regulations and actions by adopting a joint resolution of disapproval. By passing the measure in both chambers, the resolution can be signed by the president, or if Congress can override a veto, the law in question is repealed.
“This is a vote to protect frontline and essential health care workers from Biden’s overreaching vaccine mandate, especially at a time when we’re facing personnel shortages across the health care field, particularly in rural hospitals and medical centers,” Cramer said, according to his website.
The measure would also have to be passed in the U.S. House, which The New York Times said was not likely. Six Democrats missed the Senate vote.
According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) data, about 84% of staff in health facilities were considered to be fully vaccinated, as of Feb. 20.
The U.S. Supreme Court recently upheld the CMS vaccine guidelines, and nursing home staff in half of the country are days aware from a March 15 deadline to be fully vaccinated. Nursing homes that meet 80% and 90% vaccination thresholds have 90 days to become fully compliant, according to Skilled Nursing News.
