[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 63 (Monday, April 17, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S1138]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 79. Mr. PAUL submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him 
to the bill S. 870, to amend the Federal Fire Prevention and Control 
Act of 1974 to authorize appropriations for the United States Fire 
Administration and firefighter assistance grant programs; which was 
ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC. __. PROHIBITION ON AWARD OF FEDERAL FUNDS.

       (a) In General.--A fire service shall be ineligible to 
     receive any Federal funds made available under this Act and 
     the amendments made by this Act if the fire service dismissed 
     or discharged from employment any individual based solely 
     on--
       (1) the failure of the individual to obey an order to 
     receive a vaccine for COVID-19; or
       (2) the exercise by the individual of any rights protected 
     under the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United 
     States to speak against the implementation of any mandate to 
     receive a vaccine for COVID-19.
       (b) Exception.--The prohibition in subsection (a) shall not 
     apply if the fire service has offered reinstatement to all 
     individuals dismissed or discharged based solely on a reason 
     described in paragraph (1) or (2) of that subsection to the 
     position and rank held by the individual on the date of the 
     dismissal or discharge with full back pay calculated from the 
     date of the dismissal or discharge.
       (c) Fire Service Defined.--The term ``fire service'' has 
     the meaning given that term in section 4 of the Federal Fire 
     Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2203).
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