HR 185 United States House · 118th Congress

To terminate the requirement imposed by the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for proof of COVID-19 vaccination for foreign travelers, and for other purposes.

HR 185 ends a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) rule requiring foreign travelers entering the U.S. by air to show proof of a COVID-19 vaccination. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment, terminating the specific requirement outlined in the CDC’s April 2022 order (and any similar future orders). It also prohibits federal funding from being used to enforce this rule. This change directly affects foreign air travelers entering the United States, removing a vaccination proof requirement for their entry. The bill does not impact domestic travel, other entry methods, or vaccination requirements for U.S. citizens.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2023

Committee Review

Feb 2023

House Passage

Feb 2023

Senate Passage

President

Introduced Jan 9, 2023 Last action Feb 13, 2023

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced in House → Engrossed in House · 4 edits · Feb 8, 2023

MODERATE

The Engrossed version adds the operative provision that actually terminates the CDC's air travel vaccination requirement for foreign travelers (subsection a), which was missing from the Introduced version. It also adds a new 90-day reporting requirement for CDC to report on how many visitors were denied entry under the order, and a rule of construction clarifying that the separate China-specific test requirement is not affected by this Act.

Scope change

The bill's scope was clarified to explicitly exclude the China-specific pre-departure test requirement from its effect, while the core scope (terminating the general foreign traveler vaccination proof requirement) was made operative by adding the missing 'no force or effect' language.

SCOPE

Added subsection (a) 'In general' which states that beginning on the date of enactment, the air travel vaccination requirement for foreign travelers shall have no force or effect. This is the core operative provision that actually voids the CDC order.

Added Section 3 'Rule of construction' clarifying that this Act does not affect the separate CDC order requiring negative pre-departure COVID-19 test results for travelers from China (published January 5, 2023).

REQUIREMENT

Added Section 2 requiring the CDC Director to submit a report to Congress within 90 days of enactment on the number of visitors denied entry under the April 7, 2022 order during the period from that date through enactment.

TECHNICAL

Restructured the definition of 'air travel vaccination requirement for foreign travelers' into a formal subsection (c) with a heading, though the substantive content of the definition is unchanged.

Floor votes · House Feb 8, 2023

How they voted

227–201

Passed · 6 other

Total votes 434

Feb 8, 2023

D Democratic212

7 Yea 201 Nay 4

94% Nay

I Independent1

1 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican221

219 Yea 2

99% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Feb 8, 2023

Lower · Passed

On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 227 - 201 (Roll no. 116).

lower

Feb 8, 2023

Lower · Passed

Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 227 - 201 (Roll no. 116).

lower

Feb 8, 2023

Lower · Passed

Ms. Schrier moved to recommit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. (text: CR H760)

lower

Feb 8, 2023

Lower · Passed

The House adopted the amendments en gross as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.

lower

Feb 8, 2023

Lower · Passed

The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 185.

lower

Feb 8, 2023

Introduced

UNFINISHED BUSINES - The Chair announced that the unfinished business was on the question of agreeing to amendments, which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.

lower

Feb 8, 2023

Lower · Passed

The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration.

lower

Feb 8, 2023

Lower · Passed

Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union rises leaving H.R. 185 as unfinished business.

lower

Feb 8, 2023

Lower · Passed

On motion that the committee rise Agreed to by voice vote.

lower

Feb 8, 2023

Lower · Passed

Mr. Bucshon moved that the committee rise.

lower

Feb 8, 2023

Introduced

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Torres (CA) amendment No. 5, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Pallone demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

lower

Feb 8, 2023

Lower · Passed

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 97, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Torres (CA) amendment No. 5.

lower

Feb 8, 2023

Introduced

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Rose amendment No. 4, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Pallone demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

lower

Feb 8, 2023

Lower · Passed

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 97, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Rose amendment No. 4.

lower

Feb 8, 2023

Introduced

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Golden (ME) amendment No. 3, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Pallone demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

lower

Feb 8, 2023

Lower · Passed

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 97, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Golden (ME) amendment No. 3.

lower

Feb 8, 2023

Introduced

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Boebert amendment No. 2, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mrs. Boebert demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

lower

Feb 8, 2023

Lower · Passed

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 97, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Boebert amendment No. 2.

lower

Feb 8, 2023

Introduced

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the McGovern amendment No. 1, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Pallone demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

lower

Feb 8, 2023

Lower · Passed

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 97, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the McGovern amendment No. 1.

lower

Feb 8, 2023

Lower · Passed

GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 185.

lower

Feb 8, 2023

Lower · Passed

The Speaker designated the Honorable Kevin Kiley to act as Chairman of the Committee.

lower

Feb 8, 2023

Lower · Passed

House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 97 and Rule XVIII.

lower

Feb 8, 2023

Introduced

Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 185, H.J. Res. 24 and H.J. Res. 26 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order.

lower

Feb 7, 2023

Lower · Passed

Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 97 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 185, H.J. Res. 24 and H.J. Res. 26 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order.

lower

Jan 20, 2023

Committee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

lower

Jan 9, 2023

Committee

Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

lower

Jan 9, 2023

Introduced

Introduced in House

lower

1 primary · 32 co-sponsors