Senate conservatives threaten to hold up government funding over vaccine mandate

A group of 10 Senate conservatives led by Republican Steering Committee Chairman Mike LeeMichael (Mike) Shumway LeeSenate averts shutdown, passes .6B in Ukraine aid Senate gets deal for quick vote on funding, Ukraine aid GOP demands delay vote on spending, Ukraine aid MORE (R-Utah) are threatening to hold up a government-funding measure and possibly trigger a federal shutdown unless they can vote on an amendment to defund President BidenJoe BidenTop Hispanic lawmaker urges Biden to expedite reunification of Ukrainians in US Democrats plot strategy to defy expectations, limit midterm losses On The Money — US suspending normal trade with Russia MORE’s COVID-19 vaccine mandates.  

Lee and nine other Senate Republicans circulated a “Dear Colleague” letter Friday afternoon threatening to object to procedural requests to speed up passage of a funding bill before the March 11 deadline unless leaders allow them to vote on an amendment to defund the Biden administration’s vaccine mandates for medical workers, military personnel, federal employees and federal contractors.  

“We are writing to let you know that we will once again not consent to a time agreement that eases passage of a CR or Omnibus that funds these mandates,” they wrote. “At the very least, we will require a roll call vote on an amendment that defunds the enforcement of these vaccine mandates for the spending period covered by the government funding measure.” 

The letter was signed by Republican Sens. Ted CruzRafael (Ted) Edward CruzPhotos of the Week: Ketanji Brown-Jackson and Sen. Booker, 'Zelensky Way' and many sheep Cruz rides shotgun around DC Beltway with truckers convoy Hate crime panel witnesses demand more resources MORE (Texas), Steve DainesSteven (Steve) David DainesGOP demands delay vote on spending, Ukraine aid Rubio: Implementing no-fly zone over Ukraine 'means starting World War III' Two GOP senators share photos from Zoom call with Zelensky despite requests not to MORE (Mont.), Rick Scott (Fla.), James LankfordJames Paul LankfordDemocrats cancel vote on Biden pick to lead ICE after domestic abuse allegations  Energy & Environment — Russian takeover sparks nuclear jitters Senate conservatives threaten to hold up government funding over vaccine mandate MORE (Okla.), Roger MarshallRoger W. MarshallGOP demands delay vote on spending, Ukraine aid Senate conservatives threaten to hold up government funding over vaccine mandate Overnight Health Care — Presented by Alexion — Battle lines drawn over COVID-19 funding MORE (Kan.), Ron JohnsonRonald (Ron) Harold JohnsonCruz rides shotgun around DC Beltway with truckers convoy The Hill's Campaign Report: GOP hits Dems over rising prices at the pump Johnson touts work with Milwaukee faith initiative in new ads MORE (Wis.), Mike BraunMichael BraunSenate averts shutdown, passes .6B in Ukraine aid Senate gets deal for quick vote on funding, Ukraine aid GOP demands delay vote on spending, Ukraine aid MORE (Ind.), Cynthia LummisCynthia Marie LummisGOP demands delay vote on spending, Ukraine aid Tech Trojan Horse: How the Senate is poised to codify censorship of social media Senate conservatives threaten to hold up government funding over vaccine mandate MORE (Wyo.) and Rand PaulRandal (Rand) Howard PaulSenate averts shutdown, passes .6B in Ukraine aid GOP demands delay vote on spending, Ukraine aid Wyoming legislature kills crossover voting ban despite Trump's support MORE (Ky.).  

The senators noted that while the Biden administration recently rescinded an Occupational Safety and Health Administration COVID-19 vaccine mandate for large employers following an adverse decision by the Supreme Court, the mandates for medical workers, military personnel and federal employees and contractors remain in place.  

“These COVID-19 vaccine mandates amount to a serious abuse of both federal power and executive authority. They also further strain the economic and social pressures our society currently faces, while completely ignoring existing evidence-based data on natural immunity from previous COVID19 infection,” the senators wrote.  

Also on Friday afternoon, a group of nearly 40 House Republicans sent a letter to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellTrump to hold rally for Perdue, Walker in Georgia Biden says US, allies to revoke 'most favored nation' trade status for Russia Senate averts shutdown, passes .6B in Ukraine aid MORE (R-Ky.) and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthyKevin McCarthyBiden says US, allies to revoke 'most favored nation' trade status for Russia Watch: What happens if a red wave hits the House? Russian invasion scrambles Democrats' agenda MORE (R-Calif.) announcing they will oppose “any federal government funding measure that funds the enforcement of COVID-19 vaccine mandates.” 

“So far, Congress has not leveraged the full “power of the purse” to end the COVID-19 vaccine mandates that continue to harm tens of thousands of Americans – most notably our medical workers, military personnel, and federal workers such as Border Patrol,” they wrote.   

They wrote that it is troubling to force troops to get COVID-19 vaccination shots at a time of potential military conflict in Eastern Europe. 

“It is particularly troubling for the President to ask thousands of those troops to amass in Eastern Europe while simultaneously finger-wagging at them to get a politicized vaccine or be fired,” they wrote.