WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) today introduced a congressional Joint Resolution disapproving of the District of Columbia government’s recently passed “Minor Consent for Vaccinations Amendments Act of 2020.” The law would allow children as young as 11-years old to consent to vaccinations without their parents’ knowledge – a dangerous violation of parental rights and children’s health.

“The D.C. government’s vaccination bill is a threat to District children, their families, and the entire community,” Sen. Lee said. “Young children do not know their medical histories, potential allergies, or possess adult judgment, which is the whole point of having parents make healthcare decisions on behalf of their kids. This new law goes so far as to hide children’s medical vaccinations from their own parents. Congress has the responsibility of overseeing District policymaking, and to protect parents’ rights and children’s health, we should exercise that authority by disapproving this dangerous mistake.”

The “Minor Consent for Vaccinations Act of 2020” would strip District of Columbia parents of their rights to make vaccination decisions for their children, and require doctors, nurses, insurance companies, and even public schools to conceal children’s vaccinations from their parents. The D.C. Home Rule Act gives Congress 30 days after passage of certain legislation by the D.C. City Council to disapprove of that legislation, thereby precluding its implementation. The Joint Resolution of Disapproval, if passed, would strike down the proposed law.

Cosponsors include: Sens. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), and James Lankford (R-Okla.). 

Reps. Michael Cloud (R-Texas) and Rep. Gary Palmer (R-Ala.) are introducing the companion measure in the House.