Webster & Graves Introduce Bill to Ban Vaccine Passports for Travel

Washington, DC - Congressman Daniel Webster (R-FL) and Congressman Sam Graves (R-MO) introduced the SAFER Travel Act, H.R. 6257, to ban federal vaccine passports and quarantine requirements for travel.

"President Biden, his administration and Democrats in Congress are out of control as they continue to push more mandates and restrictions on the American people,” said Rep. Webster, who serves on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. “This is not about science or public health; this is fearmongering to maintain control and it has to stop. This bill protects the privacy and personal freedoms of American citizens to make healthcare decisions in consultation with their doctor – not because of demands by Washington politicians or bureaucrats. I will continue to work with my colleagues to defend the freedoms of the American people.”

“You shouldn’t need a vaccine passport to get on a train, board a plane, or travel home for the holidays,” said Rep. Sam Graves, Ranking Member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. “This bill would put that terrible idea to bed once and for all. The vaccines have proven to be the safest and most effective tool we have against preventing COVID-19, but the federal government has no business mandating them for travel, work, or anything else. It’s a personal decision and it needs to stay that way.”

H.R. 6257 would prohibit COVID-19 vaccine mandates or quarantine requirements on Americans for the purposes of travel. The science and data are clear, the vast majority of Americans have received a COVID-19 vaccine or have natural immunity from previous infection. Those vaccinated can contract and spread COVID-19 making mandates completely nonsensical.

Earlier this month, the CDC and White House officials announced additional restrictions on Americans traveling domestically and abroad were possible, including additional testing and quarantines. Travel restrictions and mandates continue to be considered without any consideration or accountability for the emotional and physical ramifications on families and individuals’ mental health. Drug overdose deaths hit a record high from May 2020 – April 2021, which Michael Barnett, assistant professor of health policy and management at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health partially attributed to pandemic restrictions telling Newsweek, “People face enormous financial difficulties, mass unemployment, isolation… All of those things can test anyone’s resilience to addiction.”

Congressman Webster has cosponsored legislation prohibiting President Biden’s COVID-19 mandate on private businesses, federal contractors and those who provide Medicare and Medicaid services.

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