Urges US Congress to pass legislation to reinstate service members discharged for refusing COVID-19 vaccine.
Impact
If passed, H.R.7570 would allow for the reinstatement of service members to their former ranks upon their request and facilitate a change in their discharge statuses to honorable. The New Jersey legislature expresses gratitude for the sacrifices made by military personnel and recognizes the need for respect for individual choices regarding medical decisions, such as vaccination. This resolution aligns state-level advocacy with federal initiatives to address the injustices faced by the affected service members.
Summary
ACR146 is a Concurrent Resolution introduced in the New Jersey legislature urging the United States Congress to pass H.R.7570. This proposed bill aims to protect service members who were discharged for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine. The context arises from the Biden administration's mandate in 2021 for military personnel to receive the vaccine, which led to disciplinary actions against those who did not comply, resulting in their discharge. ACR146 emphasizes the need to rectify the situation for these service members who may have received general discharges under honorable conditions, which can affect their eligibility for benefits and their future employment prospects.
Contention
Debate around ACR146 and H.R.7570 may highlight a broader national discourse focusing on personal autonomy in healthcare decisions within the military. There are likely contrasting viewpoints regarding the military's authority to mandate vaccinations versus the rights of service members to refuse. Proponents of the resolution argue that it serves justice to those who have served the nation, while critics may view it as undermining the military's operational requirements and public health imperatives. Thus, while the resolution calls for reinstatement of discharged members, it also reflects deeper issues of individual rights versus collective responsibility in the context of military service.
Memorializes Congress to pass the AMERICANS Act of 2023 to reinstate any service member removed from any branch of the military for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine.
Service Restoration Act This bill prohibits the use of federal funds to require a member of the Armed Forces, or a cadet or midshipman at a military service academy, to receive a COVID-19 vaccination. Additionally, no such individuals may be subject to adverse action solely on the basis of a refusal to receive a COVID-19 vaccination. At the request of an individual who was involuntarily separated from an Armed Force solely because of a refusal to receive a COVID-19 vaccination, the military department concerned must reinstate the individual as a member of the Armed Force in the same rank and grade the individual held at the time of separation, expunge from the individual's military service record any reference to adverse action related to the refusal to receive a COVID-19 vaccination, and include the period between the involuntary separation and reinstatement in the computation of retired or retainer pay of the individual. The bill requires that the discharge of members due to the failure to obey a lawful order to receive a COVID-19 vaccination must be categorized as an honorable discharge, including for individuals who were discharged prior to the enactment of this bill.