House Republicans are calling on President Donald Trump to use his executive power to block hospitals from denying organ transplants for people not vaccinated against COVID-19.
Ohio Representative Michael Rulli, who is leading the letter, said he was partially moved to act after Vice President JD Vance’s 12-year-old relative was allegedly refused a heart transplant over her COVID-19 vaccination status.
The letter said, “Over the past week, it has come to light that multiple desperate Americans have been denied life-saving organ transplants due to their COVID-19 vaccination status.” “This outrageous denial of care has affected some of our most vulnerable citizens—including a child from Indiana and a veteran from Ohio.”
Earlier this month, he and Indiana Representative Erin Houchin filed legislation to prohibit government money from flowing to any entity that refuses someone treatment based on their COVID-19 vaccination status.
Rep. Rulli said in an interview that, “President Trump has done such a great job recently on executive orders.” “And I am asking President Trump if he sees this to please do an executive order…because you could save someone’s life today.”
“The timing is everything. If we don’t get this done, people’s lives could be at risk.”
The letter, signed by Rulli, Houchin, and five other House Republicans, referenced Trump’s executive orders that ended COVID-19 vaccine mandates in schools and reinstated military service members who were discharged for failing to receive the vaccine.
The letter said, “The same principles apply here. These reckless mandates, implemented under the Biden Administration, do more harm than good.” “With your leadership, our nation could return to a time when our brave and talented medical professionals can save lives freely, unburdened by bureaucratic barriers that endanger our most vulnerable citizens.”
Vice President Vance said he would try to help. He said, “I guess it’s been circulating on social media, but I was made aware of a couple days ago, and we’re trying to dig in and trying to help, obviously, as much as possible.”
