The Senate on Wednesday passed a resolution calling for the repeal of President Joe Biden's coronavirus vaccination mandate for large employers.
Lawmakers voted 52-48 to overturn the mandate, under which private businesses with 100 or more employees would have to require workers to be vaccinated or undergo weekly COVID testing.
The measure was supported by the entire Senate Republican Conference and two Democrats: Senator Joe Manchin from West Virginia and Senator Jon Tester from Montana.
Senator Mike Braun, a Republican from Indiana, introduced the resolution. He said the president has no right to impose such a mandate on businesses.
"This bipartisan vote is a crystal clear message to the White House: Back off, and stop this crazy federal overreach immediately," Braun tweeted.
Braun said the mandate is "dangerous federal overreach," adding that "no one should be forced to choose between getting a vaccine and losing their job."
The resolution now goes to the House, where political analysts say it is unlikely to pass. In the event that the measure does make it through the Democratic-controlled House, it would then go to Biden's desk. The White House has indicated the president would veto the measure if it makes it that far.
Biden introduced the mandate in September in an effort to boost COVID vaccination rates. A federal appeals court has temporarily blocked enforcement of the mandate, which was set to take effect January 4, citing "grave statutory and constitutional issues."
According to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and prevention 83.8% of adults have received at least one dose of the vaccine and 71.8% are considered fully vaccinated.
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