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Norton Vows to Defeat Gaetz Bill Blocking D.C. Vaccine Mandate

January 13, 2022

Gaetz is 5th member to try to block D.C. vaccine policy this Congress

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) said today that she will defeat a bill introduced yesterday by Representative Matt Gaetz (R-FL) that would nullify the District of Columbia's order that requires individuals to present documentation of COVID-19 vaccination to enter restaurants, bars and many other facilities, which takes effect on January 15, 2022. Gaetz is the fifth member of Congress to try to block a D.C. vaccine policy this Congress.

"Representative Gaetz is abusing Congress' undemocratic authority over D.C. by trying to overturn an order issued by the duly elected mayor of D.C.," Norton said. "Mayor Bowser, not Representative Gaetz, was elected by D.C. residents to be the chief executive officer of this jurisdiction of nearly 700,000 residents. I will defeat Representative Gaetz's bill, just like I will defeat the other four Republican bills that would overturn D.C. vaccine policy."

Last week, Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) announced he would introduce a bill that would block a bill passed by the D.C. Council that requires students to receive a COVID-19 vaccination. Earlier this Congress, Representative Michael Cloud (R-TX) and Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced a disapproval resolution that would have blocked D.C.'s bill that permits minors to receive a vaccination without parental consent from taking effect. Norton defeated this resolution, which has since expired, and D.C.'s bill is now law. Representative Pat Fallon (R-TX) introduced a bill that would prohibit D.C. from requiring an individual to present documentation of COVID-19 vaccination to enter any building, facility or other venue.

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