Press Secretary Jen Psaki: "Governor Abbott's executive order banning mandates and, I would also note, an announcement by Governor DeSantis this morning, essentially, banning the implementation of mandates, fit a familiar pattern that we've seen of putting politics ahead of public health."
Q Is the administration going to sue Texas over the — opposing the order for the vaccine mandates? And is there a risk that, kind of, the OSHA efforts essentially get tied up in litigation rather than having the immediate effect?
MS. PSAKI: Well, Josh, these requirements are promulgated by federal law. So, when the President announced his vaccine mandates for businesses — that, of course, we’re waiting on OSHA regulations, as far as a next step — that was pursuant to federal law and the implementation of federal law because it’s an executive order.
So, our intention is to implement and continue to work to implement these requirements across the country, including in the states where there are attempts to oppose them.
I will say, since you gave me the opportunity, Governor Abbott’s executive order banning mandates — and I would also note an announcement by Governor DeSantis this morning, essentially banning the implementation of mandates — fit a familiar pattern that we’ve seen of putting politics ahead of public health. Over 700,000 American lives have been lost due to COVID-19, including more than 56,000 in Florida and over 68,000 in Texas. And every leader should be focused on supporting efforts to save lives and end the pandemic.
Why would you be taking steps that prevent the saving of lives, that make it more difficult to save lives in — across the country or in any state?
And I would also note that vaccine requirements have been standard in both the Lone Star State, Texas — in case you’re not familiar — and the Sunshine State, Florida, in schools for decades. Whether polio, measles, mumps, rubella, the chickenpox, there are vaccine requirements that have been implemented for decades in these states.
So, these decisions put these two leaders out of step with both longtime requirements — a history of vaccine mandates — but also many business leaders in their states. And many businesses that are based in their states, including Disney and American Airlines, that are — these leaders are taking steps to help boost vaccination rates, reduce deaths, hospitalizations — reduce hospitalizations, and expand the country’s labor pool.
So, bottom line is: We’re going to continue to implement the law, which the President of the United States has the ability, the authority — the legal authority to do. And we are going to continue to work to get more people vaccinated, to get out of this pandemic. The President will use every lever at his disposal to do that.
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