WASHINGTON—The House this week passed several measures that would end federal emergencies for the COVID pandemic and repeal the COVID vaccine mandate for health care workers under Medicare and Medicaid.

Heritage Foundation senior research fellow Bob Moffit made the following statement on Wednesday:

“House lawmakers were following sound policy and real science by formally ending the COVID national medical emergency. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported that high levels of vaccine and natural immunity have substantially reduced the risk of several illness, hospitalization, and death.

“They also are right to end any coercive mandates from the federal government with regards to the COVID vaccine. Americans should make that decision with their doctors, not to comply with a federal whim.

“Going forward, it’s imperative that Congress hold exhaustive hearings that provide the American public with better answers to glaring questions—such as the origin of COVID-19 and any role U.S. funding might have played in aiding gain-of-function research in China as well as using the oversight process to better protect Americans from another pandemic.”

To see Heritage’s full list of recommendations for COVID hearings, check out our special report.