While working through the legislative process to not permit hospitals to deny life-saving organ transplants based on a patient’s COVID-19 vaccination status, U.S. Rep. Michael Rulli asked President Donald Trump to sign an executive order to enforce it right away.

The request from Rulli, R-Salem, and six other Republican House members urge Trump, a fellow Republican, to direct Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and a vocal vaccine skeptic, to take all necessary steps to ensure that organ transplant recipients are not discriminated against based on their COVID-19 vaccination status.

Rulli and U.S. Rep. Erin Houchin, an Indiana Republican, introduced the COVID-19 Vaccination Non-Discrimination Act on Feb. 14 after the parents of 12-year-old Adaline Deal said Cincinnati Children’s Hospital denied a heart transplant for their daughter because she hasn’t received the COVID-19 vaccine and a flu shot. The girl’s parents say vaccines conflict with their religious and medical beliefs.

The bill would prohibit federal funds from being provided to hospitals that refuse to provide treatment based on COVID-19 vaccination status.

Rulli, whose 11-county district has Mahoning as its most-populous, said: “Every week, we hear another heartbreaking story — a child fighting for their life, denied a lifesaving transplant, or a veteran, an American hero, cast aside and refused the same chance — all because of cruel COVID-19 vaccine mandates. Hospitals have no right to play God, and politics should never determine who gets to live.”

Rulli gave two examples — Deal and Ohio veteran Ken Long of Eaton, who was denied a heart transplant because of his refusal to receive the COVID-19 vaccination.

The hospitals that have denied the two transplants say those receiving them are “immunosuppressed for the rest of their lives” and vaccines play a key role in mitigating a patient’s “risk of life-threatening inflections, especially in the first year.”

Acknowledging getting legislative approval takes time, Rulli, Houchin and five other Republicans sent a letter to Trump urging him to sign an executive order.

“With your leadership, our nation could return to a time when our brave and talented medical professionals can save lives freely, unburdened by bureaucratic barriers that endanger our most vulnerable citizens,” the letter sent Wednesday to Trump reads.

The letter points out Trump signed a Jan. 27 executive order to reinstate service members discharged under the military’s COVID-19 vaccination mandate and a Feb. 15 order ending the vaccination mandate in schools by denying federal funding for those that don’t comply.

The military’s COVID-19 vaccination mandate was rescinded in January 2023. It was enacted in August 2021 with more than 8,000 service members discharged for refusing to get vaccinated.

COVID-19 vaccinations are no longer required in any public schools and 21 states passed laws banning student COVID-19 vaccination mandates, according to the National Academy for State Health Policy.

Those “were crucial steps in upholding medical and religious freedom,” the letter reads about the two executive orders. “The same principles apply here. These reckless mandates, implemented under the (Joe) Biden administration, do more harm than good. It has become increasingly clear that these mandates are out of step with parental rights, medical freedom and the religious beliefs of millions of Americans.”

A Rulli spokesman said Monday that the office received confirmation that the White House received the letter and will review it.

The other Republicans signing the letter were U.S. Reps. Nancy Mace of South Carolina, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Mike Collins of Georgia, Troy E. Nehls of Texas and Nicholas J. Begich III of Alaska.

Rulli said he and Houchin will continue to push the legislation forward.

“But time is running out and lives are at stake,” Rulli said. “While we work to pass this bill, we are urging President Trump to take immediate action with an executive order. Enough is enough. This unfair practice must stop now.”

Rulli added: “President Trump has always stood with the American people, especially those harmed by Joe Biden’s unnecessary and overreaching COVID-19 mandates. He has reversed countless unjust restrictions before and we trust him to do the right thing again. This letter brings the issue directly to his attention, ensuring he understands the devastating impact these mandates continue to have.”