On the recordSeptember 28, 2021
reserving the right to object, this unnecessary bill will undermine our efforts to end a pandemic that has killed over 685,000 people and counting. We are fighting a highly contagious virus. If people don't get vaccinated, variants like Delta will continue to spread, undermine our economy, and take lives. Getting people vaccinated is one of the most important things we can do to stop COVID-19. And let's be clear. Immunization requirements are nothing new in this country. State and local governments and school districts have required vaccination against diseases like polio and measles for over a century. Taking similar steps against COVID is just commonsense. Tailored exemptions for legitimate religious and medical considerations already exist in current law and are included in President Biden's policy. This bill could undermine existing protections and create a massive loophole that would lead to more unnecessary and preventable deaths. It is so frustrating to know how scared people are of this virus, to know how many people it has killed, to know how hard people are trying to do the right thing and how eager they are for this to end, only to have Republicans offer ideas that would create political division, prolong this crisis, and cost more lives, so I object. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard. The Senator from Utah.





