See below for video of President Biden’s speech on his “six-pronged, comprehensive national strategy that employs the same science-based approach that was used to successfully combat previous variants of COVID-19 earlier this year,” as well as reactions from Virginia elected officials (I’ll add more as I see them) and others. Also, some more information from the White House website: “This plan will ensure that we are using every available tool to combat COVID-19 and save even more lives in the months ahead, while also keeping schools open and safe, and protecting our economy from lockdowns and damage.” Great stuff…just wish it had happened even sooner!
COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective. As we continue to fight a deadly pandemic that has killed hundreds of thousands of Americans, I’m glad to know that the President is using every tool at his disposal to boost vaccination rates and save lives.
— Mark Warner (@MarkWarner) September 9, 2021
🚨 President Biden is about to announce a detailed national strategy to guide us out of this pandemic and ensure our economic recovery remains strong.
This is leadership.
Learn more: https://t.co/hD9k7AVm2C
— Rep. Gerry Connolly (@GerryConnolly) September 9, 2021
Beyer Statement On Biden COVID-19 Action Plan
September 9, 2021 (Washington, D.C.) – Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA), who represents the largest number of federal workers of any U.S. Representative, today issued the following statement on President Biden’s just-announced COVID-19 Action Plan:
“Requiring every federal worker and contractor to receive a safe, free, lifesaving Covid vaccination is a necessary and important step to protect both the federal workforce and the people they serve. This is absolutely the correct call by President Biden.
“The rise in cases and deaths with the delta variant is deeply tragic and frustrating because it was completely avoidable. Given the choice between allowing this virus to continue to spread, which would mean many thousands more preventable deaths and vast harm to our economy, and comprehensive action to protect the country, President Biden has rightly chosen the latter.
“The President’s orders today, which include a measure strongly resembling my legislation requiring the vaccination of health workers, are designed to protect the American people and end this pandemic. The only way to get our economy permanently back on track and get Americans back to work is controlling this virus, and that means this is also an important economic plan.
“Every elected official, every captain of industry, every hospital administrator, every community leader, and every commentator with a platform must decide whether to be part of the solution by embracing and encouraging vaccinations and other safety measures, or whether they will try to further prolong the pandemic.”
Beyer introduced legislation earlier today which would require the vaccination of airport and Amtrak travelers and workers. He previously introduced a bill to require healthcare providers to be vaccinated. Early in the pandemic he authored legislation to promote the development of at-home rapid COVID tests, and coauthored a provision which ultimately made Covid vaccines free to the American people.
Rep. Don Beyer is the Chair of Congress’ Joint Economic Committee.
Vaccines are the best way for us to get through this pandemic. That's why we have required vaccinations for over 120,000 state employees—and it’s making our Commonwealth safer. https://t.co/9Ctw6mPgqu
— Governor Ralph Northam (@VAGovernor73) September 9, 2021
Smart moves. Vaccines are how we keep this virus in check and our economy open. Glenn Youngkin will remove vaccine requirements here in Virgina, putting Virginians and our economic recovery at risk. https://t.co/Jq9lm8G70l
— Terry McAuliffe (@TerryMcAuliffe) September 9, 2021
Rep. Don Beyer’s communications director Aaron Fritschner:
For months anti-vaxxers whined and raged and got all the attention while a much larger number of people watched the new, preventable wave of sickness and death in quiet frustration. There is a lot of anger on their side that hasn't gotten headlines, and @POTUS just gave it voice.
— Aaron Fritschner (@Fritschner) September 9, 2021
And now for the seditionists, insurrectionists, and other assorted extremists...
Joe Biden’s vaccine mandate on the American people is a gross abuse of power and potentially unconstitutional. The federal government has no right to trample on workers’ rights, medical freedom and individual liberty.
— Congressman Ben Cline (@RepBenCline) September 9, 2021
Sign up for the Blue Virginia weekly newsletter
