WASHINGTON – On Friday, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) joined U.S. Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) and eight of their Republican colleagues in defense of Americans targeted by President Biden’s vaccine mandates. In a letter to Senate colleagues, the Senators refused to consent to expedited passage of a funding bill unless there is a roll call vote on an amendment to defund the enforcement of remaining federal vaccine mandates on government contractors, members of the military, all other federal employees, and medical care providers.

“We have consistently opposed President Biden’s federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates, which would force millions of Americans to choose between an unwanted medical procedure and being able to provide for their families. For legal, constitutional, and policy reasons, we remain strongly opposed to the mandates and will continue to work to end their imposition on Americans,” said the senators.

“These COVID-19 vaccine mandates amount to a serious abuse of both federal power and executive authority.  … President Biden has no business forcing people to make a tragic choice between unemployment and an unwanted vaccination. Additionally, it is particularly troubling for the President to ask thousands of troops to amass in eastern Europe while simultaneously demanding they get a politicized vaccine,” the senators continued.

“History will bear record of whether we chose to endure tyranny, or oppose it, in this pivotal moment. We invite you to stand with us and oppose the continued funding of these mandates,” the senators concluded.

Sens. Johnson and Mike Lee are joined on the letter by Senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), and Rand Paul (R-Ky.).

The full text of the letter can be found here.

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