The House Armed Services Committee adopted an amendment in the annual defense policy bill on May 22 that, if cleared through Congress, would force the Pentagon to rehire U.S. troops who were fired for refusing a COVID-19 vaccine.
The measure was adopted late on May 22 by lawmakers on the panel, who marked up and advanced their version of the annual appropriations bill, authorizing a defense budget of $849.8 billion.
During the debate, she said the measure would direct the Pentagon to develop a strategy to recruit from among the thousands of servicemembers who "Were made veterans overnight" under the COVID-19 vaccine mandate.
"The Department has so far failed to recruit a significant number of servicemembers separated under the COVID mandate. This is unacceptable." 'Vaccines Save Lives' Offering a counter perspective after Ms. Mace spoke, Rep. Salud Carbajal said servicemembers are required to get a broad range of vaccines, including region-specific vaccines, when deployed to certain areas.
Congress ended the Pentagon's COVID-19 vaccine mandate in 2022 and last year directed Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to create a path back to service for those who were separated for refusing the vaccine.
The measure faces an uncertain future later this year when the committee meets with the Democrat-led Senate Armed Services Committee to reconcile differences in the National Defense Authorization Act before full passage in Congress.
Committee Advances Draft Defense Spending Bill House Armed Services Committee Chair Rep. Mike Rogers said the 2025 defense spending bill considers the quality of life for servicemembers, boosting compensation money, improving housing, expanding health care and child care access, and other issues that directly affect troops and their families.
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