HERD Act

Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Reform.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Nov 5, 2021

Having Employees Return to Duty Act or the HERD Act

This bill addresses federal employees who comply with Executive Order 14043 (requiring COVID-19 vaccination for federal employees).

Specifically, the bill requires each federal agency to require employees who comply with the order to work from their duty station and to work the hours required as of February 15, 2020.

The bill's requirement does not apply to immunocompromised employees. Additionally, the bill does not prohibit an agency from implementing different policies at a particular work site if the agency finds that (1) there is substantial transmission of COVID-19 within a community in which such requirements would otherwise be carried out; and (2) implementing those different policies will not degrade the level of service that the agency provides to the public.

Read the summary on Congress.gov

PlainBill analysis is coming later. This page presents official source data. We have not yet published a PlainBill explanation for this bill.

People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Jacobs, Chris [R-NY-27] · R–NY

Committees

Oversight and Government Reform Committee

10 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Nov 5, 2021
Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Reform.
Nov 5, 2021
Introduced in House
Nov 5, 2021
Introduced in House

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in House · Nov 5, 2021 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

S 3095 · HERD Act of 2021

Source last updated: Feb 4, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

Explore the bill from different angles

Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.

Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.5903 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Discuss H.R.5903, 117th Congress: HERD Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/5903

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2021-11-05.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/117/bills/hr5903/BILLS-117hr5903ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-02-04T16:54:13Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze H.R.5903 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.5903 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.5903, 117th Congress: HERD Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/5903

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2021-11-05.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/117/bills/hr5903/BILLS-117hr5903ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-02-04T16:54:13Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.5903 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.5903 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.5903, 117th Congress: HERD Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/5903

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2021-11-05.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/117/bills/hr5903/BILLS-117hr5903ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-02-04T16:54:13Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.5903 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.5903 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.5903, 117th Congress: HERD Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/5903

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2021-11-05.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/117/bills/hr5903/BILLS-117hr5903ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-02-04T16:54:13Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.5903 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.