MADISONVILLE, La. – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) joined Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.) and more than 180 lawmakers in filing an amicus brief to the Supreme Court in an upcoming case considering the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) vaccine mandate.

“I am happy to support this amicus brief opposing the Biden administration’s vaccine mandate. Vaccines are good, but that doesn’t give the federal government the power to force Americans to violate their own consciences,” said Kennedy.

OSHA issued a rule to officially mandate vaccination requirements for employees at private businesses with more than 100 employees. The rule would affect more than 80 million Americans.

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals blocked OSHA’s rule, but on Dec. 17, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the Fifth Court’s decision and reinstated the mandate. The Supreme Court will, on Jan. 7, hear oral arguments regarding the Sixth Court’s decision, three days before OSHA will begin enforcement efforts.

On Oct. 26, Kennedy wrote to Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III regarding the Biden administration’s vaccine mandate and the Navy’s order that U.S. military service members could lose their veterans’ benefits for failing to comply with the mandate. Kennedy advocated for service members’ freedom to make their own choices regarding the vaccine.

On Dec. 8, the Senate passed a bipartisan resolution backed by Kennedy under the Congressional Review Act, which is the official Congressional process for eliminating an executive branch rule, to nullify President Biden’s vaccine mandate.

Text of the amicus brief is available here.