Keeping Our COVID–19 Heroes Employed Act

Bill: 117-hr-5860
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Burchett, Tim [R-TN-2]
Introduced: 2021-11-04
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health

Emergency medical services and trauma care

Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management

Immunology and vaccination

Infectious and parasitic diseases

Public contracts and procurement

Worker safety and health
Latest action: action_date: 2021-11-05
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Summaries:
action_date: 2021-11-04
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Keeping Our COVID-19 Heroes Employed Act</strong></p> <p>This bill exempts essential workers from COVID-19 vaccination requirements imposed by the federal government and contractors, public entities that received federal COVID-19 relief funds, and private entities that received any federal funds.</p> <p>An<em> essential worker</em> is an individual who was deemed to be essential or exempted from response measures during the COVID-19 pandemic by a state, tribe, or territory.</p>

tv_txt: I 117th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 5860 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES November 4, 2021 Mr. Burchett (for himself, Mr. Higgins of Louisiana , Mr. Mast , Mr. Green of Tennessee , Mr. Duncan , Mrs. Hinson , Mrs. Cammack , Mr. Moore of Alabama , Mrs. Miller-Meeks , Mr. Tiffany , Mr. Guest , Mr. Weber of Texas , Mr. Norman , and Mr. Cline ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce , and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Reform , for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To exempt essential workers from Federal COVID–19 vaccine mandates.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Keeping Our COVID–19 Heroes Employed Act . 2. Exemption from vaccine mandates (a) In general Any requirement imposed by an entity described in subsection (b) that individuals be vaccinated against COVID–19 shall provide for an exemption from such requirement for all essential workers. (b) Entities described An entity described in this subsection is any of the following: (1) The Federal Government. (2) A public or private Federal contractor. (3) A private entity receiving Federal funds. (4) A public entity receiving funding under the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020 ( Public Law 116–123 ), the Families First Coronavirus Response Act ( Public Law 116–127 ), the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act ( Public Law 116–136 ), the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act ( Public Law 116–139 ), division M or N of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 ( Public Law 116–260 ), or the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 ( Public Law 117–2 ), as a condition for retaining such funds or receiving future disbursements of such funds. (c) Essential workers defined For purposes of this section, the term essential worker means an individual— (1) whom a relevant State, Indian Tribe, or territory deemed essential during the response to the COVID–19 pandemic; or (2) who was exempt from any restrictions in response to the COVID–19 pandemic imposed by a relevant State, Indian Tribe, or territory.