GOP lawmakers claim ‘vaccine passports’ reviewed by Biden administrator

Leading Republicans are trying to stamp out digital vaccine passports, which would allow businesses to verify whether customers are vaccinated against COVID-19.

The White House is working on a private sector-led initiative to help businesses identify people who have been vaccinated, as places reopen and travel begins to pick up.

New York has already developed its own version, called the “Excelsior Pass”. The digital app does not display user health information and will be required for vaccinated clients to access large venues like Madison Square Garden.

The “passports” have been criticized as intrusive and hypocritical by some Republicans, including the party’s second highest ranking member in Congress.

“Considering Democrats want to demand vaccine IDs so people can carry out their basic daily activities, they no longer have any reason to oppose voter ID laws,” the minority whip said. of the House, Steve Scalise, to Fox News.

“If according to Democratic logic you were to need ID to even enter a grocery store, surely there would be no objection to showing ID to legally vote.”

Jim Jordan, Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee called Biden’s administration searches for the passports of Americans who want to engage in day-to-day activities, while it “doesn’t seem to care about passports when it comes to illegal migrants crossing the southern border.”

“Vaccination certificates would be a complete government overrun. Individuals in America have a personal responsibility for their health, ”Representative Pete Sessions told Fox News.

The White House said the government was not playing a significant role in the project and was looking to meet demand from private companies.

“The government does not see its role as the place to create a passport or as a place to store citizens’ data,” Andy Slavitt, White House COVID-19 response team advisor, said on Monday. .

“Our role is to help ensure that any solution in this area is simple, free, open source, accessible to people both digitally and in print, and designed from the ground up to protect people’s privacy,” said White House coordinator Jeff Zients to reporters. this month.

The Excelsior Pass, which launched on Friday, can now be used by New Yorkers to access wedding receptions and other events beyond the boundaries of social gatherings.