To prohibit a mask mandate to prevent the spread of COVID-19 on a military installation in the United States.
Impact
If enacted, HB1469 would alter current health protocols on military installations, effectively ending any mask mandates aimed at curbing the transmission of COVID-19 within these facilities. This could lead to significant changes in how military personnel and their families approach health safety measures, potentially increasing the risk of virus transmission in settings where personnel work and reside closely together.
Summary
House Bill 1469 aims to prohibit the Department of Defense from enforcing a mask mandate on military installations across the United States to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The bill is part of a broader trend seeking to minimize health measures that have been implemented during the pandemic, emphasizing individual choice over mandated public health interventions. Proponents argue that members of the military should have the autonomy to make personal health decisions regarding mask-wearing without government mandates.
Contention
Notable points of contention surrounding HB1469 include concerns from public health officials who argue that ending mask mandates could compromise the health of service members, especially those who may be more vulnerable to severe outcomes from COVID-19. Supporters of the bill contend that such mandates infringe on personal freedoms and override local and individual efforts to manage health risks. This debate highlights the ongoing tension between public health measures and individual liberties, particularly in the context of a national defense setting.
This bill prohibits any entity that receives specified COVID-19 relief funds from mandating COVID-19 vaccines for its employees. An entity that violates this prohibition must return the funding it received.
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.
Travel Mask Mandate Repeal Act of 2023 This bill prohibits federal agencies from mandating the use of masks or face coverings on planes, trains, buses, and other public conveyances and at transportation hubs to prevent the transmission of COVID-19. Specifically, the bill nullifies (1) the rule issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on January 29, 2021, that mandates such use of masks or face coverings; and (2) orders and directives of the Transportation Security Administration that relate to the CDC rule.
This bill prohibits the use of federal funds to implement or enforce mandates that require individuals to wear face coverings or receive vaccinations to prevent the spread of COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019). The bill provides for an exception that applies in health care settings.