Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) is urging his constituents and governors to not comply with President Joe Biden’s COVID-19 vaccination mandate.
On Monday, Roy said, “The President of the United States does not have this power, and I am saying to all of my constituents, to the governor of Texas, do not follow this executive order. Do not fear the power of the federal government.”
“Stand up along your neighbors, your communities, your friends and say no. If you’re in a small business in Texas, or anywhere else in this country, don’t believe you have to listen to an unconstitutional, unlawful order from the president of the United States. You do not,” he added.
Watch the video below:
Rep. Chip Roy on mandates: "The President of the United States does not have this power, and I am saying to all of my constituents, to the governor of Texas, do not follow this executive order. Do not fear the power of the federal government." pic.twitter.com/CqzGvfopYv
— The Hill (@thehill) September 13, 2021
Last week, Biden announced a new coronavirus vaccine mandate that could affect millions of federal and private sector employees. Businesses can require employees to get vaccinated or get tested for the virus once a week.
However, there is no such exception to opt-out of getting vaccinated for federal employees.
As Vox notes, it appears that Biden’s mandate is constitutional as the Supreme Court has upheld government-mandated and states require school-age children to receive a variety of vaccinations. However, it is unclear if the Labor Department, which Biden said is the agency that will impose the vaccination requirement, may do so.
Vox’s Ian Millhiser explained, “There is a strong argument, however, that the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSH) permits the Labor Department to act. Among other things, that law permits the secretary of labor to issue an ’emergency temporary standard’ regarding workplace health or safety if they determine that ’employees are exposed to grave danger from exposure to substances or agents determined to be toxic or physically harmful,’ and that such a standard is ‘necessary to protect employees from such danger.’”
Several Republican governors signaled they planned to challenge the requirement. South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R) tweeted, “South Dakota will stand up to defend freedom.”
“See you in court,” she added.
South Dakota will stand up to defend freedom. @JoeBiden see you in court.
— Governor Kristi Noem (@govkristinoem) September 9, 2021
When Biden was asked about the expected challenges to the vaccine requirement, he said, “Have at it. I am so disappointed that particularly some of the Republican governors have been so cavalier with the health of these kids, so cavalier with the health of their communities. We’re playing for real here. This isn’t a game.”
