Calling being unvaccinated for COVID-19 equivalent to a “biological weapon,” U.S. Rep. Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y., has submitted HR4980 to the House Homeland Security Committee and introduced it in the House. If it passes both the House and Senate and becomes law, it would ban flying into or out of any U.S. airport unless you are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
In an interview with PIX 11 News, Torres said the Delta variant “is a weapon … a biological weapon. I would argue there’s no greater threat .. and we have to strengthen the incentives to get vaccinated.” By refusing to be vaccinated, “you’re causing the virus to spread and mutate,” he said.
Children who aren’t yet eligible for the vaccine would be exempt, he added; so would those who have a religious or medical reason for not vaccinating.
Since the text of the bill is only three paragraphs long as of August 23, 2021, no details on those exceptions are available yet. The bill does refer to a “subsection” on exceptions, though, which indicates that Torres plans to add text to it.
So far, Torres has one cosponsor teaming up with him, Rep. Ed Case, D-Hawaii.
SOURCES:
PIX 11 YouTube August 6, 2021
Congress.gov August 6, 2021
Congress.gov August 17, 2021