Florida House Speaker Chris Sprowls (R-Palm Harbor) and Senate President Wilton Simpson (R-Trilby) issued the following joint statement regarding a lawsuit announced by Governor Ron DeSantis and Attorney General Ashley Moody following vaccine mandate rules issued through the Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA):
“We commend Governor DeSantis and Attorney General Moody for defending the rights of Florida workers and business owners by bringing an immediate challenge against this unconstitutional overreach by the Biden Administration. Business owners across Florida respect and rely upon the proper role OSHA plays in monitoring workplace safety in high-risk occupations.
“Today, though, it has become even clearer that OSHA is being weaponized by the Biden Administration not to protect workers, but to institute an illegal and unconstitutional nationwide vaccine mandate that robs Americans of the dignity of work. As we have said before, the Florida Legislature looks forward to pursuing separation from OSHA and creating Florida’s own safety and health standards that reflect the views and values of our state. In addition, we offer our full support and commitment to fund the lawsuit announced by Governor DeSantis today.
“The Legislature has always been a voice for employees and business owners across Florida who are busy working and who don’t have the time or the resources to review and implement a 490-page emergency rule or to independently fight back against unconstitutional federal mandates. We will not stand by while the Biden Administration pits hardworking Floridians against their employers.”
