I sponsored S. 975, the Medical Freedom Act, to ensure individual freedoms are protected before the next declared health emergency. This bill would have prohibited businesses and schools from mandating its customers, students, visitors, or employees from receiving gene-therapy or a novel vaccine. Employees should not have to choose between a jab and their job.

The bill also reduced some of DHEC’s public health emergency powers dealing with isolation and quarantine and the ability to direct law enforcement officers to assist during these situations. Another important provision included the requirement of informed consent for Emergency Use Authorized Products.  Unfortunately, the bill stalled on the Senate floor, because the Chamber of Commerce opposed it. I hope that new membership in the House and Senate in 2025 provides the opportunity to turn this into law.