HR 497 United States House · 118th Congress

Freedom for Health Care Workers Act

HR 497, the Freedom for Health Care Workers Act, eliminates a federal requirement for healthcare workers in Medicare and Medicaid programs to be vaccinated against COVID-19. The bill directly affects healthcare providers who treat patients under these federally funded programs by preventing the enforcement of the November 2021 HHS rule mandating staff vaccinations. Its key provision prohibits the Department of Health and Human Services from implementing, enforcing, or creating a similar rule regarding vaccination for these workers. This bill changes the policy by removing a specific vaccine mandate for providers in Medicare and Medicaid programs.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2023

Committee Review

Dec 2024

House Passage

Jan 2023

Senate Passage

President

Introduced Jan 25, 2023 Last action Dec 17, 2024

Floor votes · House Jan 31, 2023

How they voted

227–203

Passed · 4 other

Total votes 434

Jan 31, 2023

D Democratic212

7 Yea 203 Nay 2

95% 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

Dec 17, 2024

Committee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

lower

Feb 3, 2023

Committee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

lower

Feb 1, 2023

Committee

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

upper

Jan 31, 2023

Lower · Passed

On passage Passed by recorded vote: 227 - 203 (Roll no. 98). (text: CR H539)

lower

Jan 31, 2023

Lower · Passed

Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 227 - 203 (Roll no. 98). (text: CR H539)

lower

Jan 31, 2023

Lower · Passed

Ms. Jacobs moved to recommit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. (text: CR H548-551)

lower

Jan 31, 2023

Lower · Passed

Rule H. Res. 75 passed House.

lower

Jan 31, 2023

Lower · Passed

Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 75 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.J. Res. 7, H.R. 139, H.R. 382 and H.R. 497. All bills are considered under a closed rule with one hour of general debate and one motion to recommit.

lower

Jan 25, 2023

Committee

Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

lower

Jan 25, 2023

Introduced

Introduced in House

lower

1 primary · 75 co-sponsors