HRES 779 is a symbolic resolution introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on November 5, 2021. It expresses Congress’s disapproval of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) emergency temporary standard (ETS) requiring employers with over 100 workers to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations or weekly testing/mask-wearing. The resolution argues OSHA overstepped its authority by treating COVID-19 as a workplace-specific risk, despite Congress having delegated vaccine-related authority to other agencies like the FDA and CDC. As a non-binding resolution, it does not change any laws or enforceable requirements - it only states congressional opinion on the ETS.
This resolution expresses the House of Representatives' support for the goals and ideals of National Veterans Small Business Week, celebrates the millions of people in the United States—especially veterans and their spouses—who benefit from Small Business Administration programs, and expresses appreciation for the continued service to the United States by the nation's veterans through small business ownership and entrepreneurship.
Stop Vaccine Mandates Act This bill rescinds the executive order titled Ensuring Adequate COVID Safety Protocols for Federal Contractors and the executive order titled Requiring Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccination for Federal Employees , both published on September 9, 2021. The bill provides that these executive orders shall have no force or effect.
Protecting Our Kids from Harmful Research Act This bill prohibits the use of federal funds for research or publications concerning gender transitions in individuals under the age of 18.
Our Veterans Earned It Act This bill prohibits members of the Armed Forces who refuse to receive a COVID-19 vaccination from being denied a federal benefit they are entitled to by reason of their service in the Armed Forces.
Rural Health Training Act of 2021 This bill requires the Health Resources and Services Administration to establish a grant program for rural hospitals, health clinics, and community health centers to provide training to employees who are nonphysician clinicians or health care support staff. As a condition of receiving grant-funded training, a trainee must continue working for the grantee for at least five years. The bill also expands the allowable uses of funding to include a trainee's childcare or transportation expenses. The Government Accountability Office must report on the impact of the grants on health care workforce retention at rural health care facilities.
This resolution recognizes the importance of gig workers (i.e., workers hired on a per-project basis) and other independent contractors to the economy.
Judgment Fund Accountability Act of 2021 This bill prohibits payments from the Judgment Fund to individuals who entered or attempted to enter the United States unlawfully. (The Judgment Fund is an account for paying judgments and settlements against the United States.)
Supporting Affordable and Reliable Energy in Developing Countries Act of 2021 This bill bans federal agencies and governmental corporations from implementing climate finance plans that would prohibit, or have the effect of prohibiting, the financing of certain projects to construct facilities that use fossil fuels or nuclear energy to generate electricity.
Options Over Terminations Act This bill exempts a federal employee or contractor from any federal mandate requiring a vaccine for COVID-19 if the employee or contractor provides proof of COVID-19 antibodies.
Public Health Workforce Loan Repayment Act of 2021 This bill establishes a student loan repayment program for public health professionals. As a condition of participation, recipients must agree to complete a period of full-time employment with a state, tribal, or local public health agency. Individuals eligible for this program include those with public health or health professions degrees, as well as those with degrees in statistics, computer science, or related information technology fields.
Prohibiting Taxpayer Funded Settlements for Illegal Immigrants Act This bill prohibits using federal funds to make settlement payments to compensate any individuals for being separated from family members while detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection if the detention was (1) a result of the individual improperly entering (or attempting to improperly enter) the United States, and (2) in accordance with a Department of Justice memorandum that adopted a zero-tolerance policy for such improper entry into the United States.
