U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today made the following statement in support of Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen’s lawsuit challenging President Biden’s vaccine mandate on Montana small businesses:
“President Biden’s vaccine mandate is Washington overreach at its worst and I support Attorney General Knudsen’s lawsuit challenging it. I encourage all Montanans to talk with their doctor and get a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine, but do not support top-down government mandates. I will continue fighting back in Congress against these mandates that are hurting Montana businesses and workers. No one should have to choose between getting the shot or keeping their job.”
The Attorney General’s lawsuit challenges the federal vaccine mandate issued by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) that forces businesses with 100 or more employees to require their workers to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. This mandate will apply to 142,000 Montanans, according to the Montana Department of Labor and Industry.
Background:
Daines has been leading efforts in Congress against Biden’s vaccine mandates.
This week, Daines moved to strike down Biden’s vaccine mandates under the Congressional Review Act (CRA). A CRA is a process for Congress to eliminate an executive branch rule and must be brought up for a vote by the full Senate regardless of an agreement by Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Democrats. To pass, a CRA only needs 51 votes.
On October 27, Daines called on Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to reassess the vaccine mandate for Montana firefighters that could inhibit effective forest management and wildfire response in the state.
On October 12, Neptune Aviation wrote to Daines expressing the burden Biden’s mandate would put on its workforce and firefighting capabilities. Read the letter HERE.
On October 18, Daines cosponsored bills to protect Montana workers, small businesses from Biden’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate and prevent the federal government from imposing fines, fees or taxes on Montana small businesses that do not adhere to Biden’s mandate.
In October, Daines urged President Biden to rescind COVID-19 vaccine mandates which will hurt Montana businesses and threaten the livelihoods of Montana workers.
In October, Daines cosponsored a bill, the “Stop Vaccine Mandates Act,” to rescind President Biden’s executive order mandating federal contractors and workers to get a COVID-19 vaccine. Read the bill text HERE.
On September 16, Daines slammed President Biden for his top-down vaccine mandate, and questioned its constitutionality.
###
Contact: Katherine McKeogh, Katie Schoettler