• The House Armed Services Committee has voted in favor of several amendments aimed at minimizing penalties for troops who refuse to receive the COVID-19 vaccine and returning them to the force.
• Congress rescinded this mandate last year, but failed to reinstate servicemen who faced forced dispersion.
• Republican Rep. Jim Banks of Indiana said in a debate on the floor that “this provides a fair, equitable and honorable option for unjustly segregated servicemen.”

The House Armed Services Committee on Wednesday approved a number of provisions aimed at canceling penalties for service members who refuse to receive the coronavirus vaccine and returning discharged service members to active duty.

The Defense Authorization Act of 2023 (DNAA) repealed Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin’s mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations for the military, but did nothing with a minus mark on personnel records, waiting for exemption or discharge. It created many complex problems for some members. Reinstate those who have already been discharged. The House Armed Services Committee is debating an NDAA price hike for fiscal year 2024, and after a year of turmoil and Republican frustration with the Pentagon over its response to vaccine phaseouts, the House Armed Services Committee is the first to address these issues. took a step forward.

One of the amendments proposed by Rep. Jim Banks of Indiana, chairman of the Military Personnel Subcommittee, would remove military personnel simply because the Department of Defense (DOD) refused to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. It prevents adding adverse measures to the record. Military officials have previously told Congress that military personnel will not be punished for simply refusing vaccinations, but that “aggravating factors” could result in permanent unfavorable marks in their files.

The bill also requires the secretary to reinstate aspiring members without changing rank or salary, rather than requiring them to re-enlist and return to the position they held when they left. (Related article: The ‘long-awaited’ House defense bill is chock-full of items aimed at countering China.)

“This is an equitable opportunity for unjustly separated military personnel (many of whom have applied for legitimate religious exemptions but have been ignored) to return to the ranks without any adverse effect on their career progression. It provides a fair and honorable choice in the industry,” Banks said.

Banks argued that reenlistment incentives for service members who would otherwise have remained could ease the worsening recruitment crisis.

The Pentagon has fired 8,400 soldiers for refusing vaccinations.

Most servicemen (about 70%) who found themselves involuntarily cut off from the military simply because they refused vaccination received a “general” rather than an “honorary” discharge, reports The Military Times. rice field. report. Soldiers, sailors, and airmen who have already discharged will have the opportunity to petition their unit to change their discharge characteristics to honorable, in accordance with the guidance issued by their service.

Another resolution from the bank calls on the Department of Defense Appeals Committee to give priority to reviewing and correcting records of ex-servicemen over other correction requests. This could allow members to secure certain veteran benefits, such as GI bills available only to honorary dischargers. according to to the Department of Veterans Affairs.

“Prioritizing those who want to re-enlist will help alleviate some of the draft crisis we are currently in, including the dismissal of thousands of troops for not being vaccinated. It wasn’t caused by doing,” Banks said.

The Third Amendment requires the Department of Defense to individually contact each service member who is discharged within six months of the bill’s passage and explain the process for re-enlisting in the military. This won’t take months.

Our military is struggling, including low recruitment numbers. #s.

If so, why are military personnel punished for choosing not to receive the COVID-19 vaccine? This doesn’t help your recruiting efforts!

That means zero!

👇 Learn more about this proposed NDAA amendment here. pic.twitter.com/WD6Oxt1Hzp

— Ronnie Jackson (@RepRonnyJackson) June 21, 2023

Republican Rep. Jackson of Texas said the military academy would pay cadets and cadets full tuition if they graduated but failed to serve as officers because they refused the vaccine order. It spearheaded a provision that prevented the claiming of

However, the commission did not come up with a full mandate of reinstatement and backpay for service members who refused vaccinations, as has been advocated by lawmakers, experts and military officials.

Florida Republican Rep. Matt Gates said, “The cost and effort required to re-recruit, reinstate, provide backpay, and provide a $15,000 bonus to military personnel discharged for refusal of coronavirus vaccinations, and According to the bill.

At least one Democrat voted in favor of each amendment. according to To Politico’s Conor O’Brien.

Washington Democrat Rep. Adam Smith, an influential member of the committee, said on the House floor that the servicemen who refused vaccination chose not to comply with legal orders and accepted all the consequences of that decision. strongly opposed to the amendment.

“Orders should not be viewed as optional within the military,” Smith said. “I think it sets a really dangerous precedent for this commission to then come back and basically tell the soldiers that they have the choice of whether or not to follow the commander’s orders.”

All content produced by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent, non-partisan news distribution service, is available free of charge to legitimate news publishers capable of serving large audiences. All reissues must include our company logo, press byline, and DCNF affiliation. If you have any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact us at licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.