Source: United States Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND)
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) joined Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) in introducing the Protecting Working Families from Federal Overreach Act, legislation to allow states to use unspent COVID-19 relief funds to pay federal fines on behalf of private employers who do not comply with the Biden Administration’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate.
“I am committed to assisting hardworking Americans and business as we fight Joe Biden’s unconstitutional and overreaching vaccine mandate,” said Senator Cramer. “Our bill allows state and tribal governments to use leftover COVID-19 dollars to aid businesses in paying any of the hefty federal fines that could be imposed by the Biden Administration. This would provide much needed regulatory relief should this rule go into effect.”
“The Biden Administration’s crusade to force COVID-19 vaccinations upon millions of American workers is a massive overstep,” said Senator Rubio. “I have always encouraged people to get vaccinated, but the federal government should not hold the incomes of working families hostage for COVID-19 vaccine mandates. The administration’s rule is an egregious overreach of federal power, and it will do nothing but further sow division into our country and make the labor shortage crisis even worse. I will continue working with my colleagues to fight back against this egregious mandate by President Biden and his radical far-left administration.”
Under the current Biden rule, employers must implement the mandate or face significant fines. Employers who are noncompliant could face fines of $13,653 per violation or $136,532 for repeated violations.
Senator Cramer has also filed a formal challenge against President Biden’s vaccine mandate on private businesses under the Congressional Review Act, the official process for Congress to eliminate an executive branch rule. This move to overturn President Biden’s vaccine mandate for private employers is guaranteed a vote on the Senate floor. The rule was transmitted to the Senate on November 16, which allows a Floor vote as early as December.