Congress to compensate troops impacted by Tuberville protest, but not those penalized for refusing Covid vaccine
Congress is preparing to pass legislation to financially compensate U.S. military members affected by Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s promotion holds. However, disappointingly, it does nothing for those who were unfairly punished for refusing the Covid jab.
Introduced by Sens. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., and Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., the Military Personnel Confirmation Restoration Act aims to provide back pay to military officials whose promotions were delayed due to Tuberville’s protest against the Pentagon’s unlawful abortion policy. The Defense Department started using taxpayer dollars to fund service members’ travel expenses for abortions earlier this year, prompting the Alabama senator to place holds on Biden’s military nominees, which slowed down the confirmation process in the Senate.
Tuberville was practically forced to abandon most of his holds earlier this month after his GOP colleagues threatened to side with Senate Democrats in changing Senate rules to bypass the protest.
When introducing the bill, Rounds issued a statement expressing his disagreement with the Pentagon’s abortion policy and his support for Tuberville’s right to hold any nomination. However, he believes that America’s men and women in uniform should not be caught in the middle of partisan politics. Manchin echoed similar sentiments, stating that Congress should at least restore the benefits earned and deserved by military personnel.
According to a Punchbowl News report published on Thursday, the Rounds-Manchin bill has reportedly gained 37 co-sponsors and could receive Senate approval before the upper chamber departs for Christmas break. This stands in stark contrast to the Senate’s lack of action in financially compensating the over 8,400 U.S. troops discharged from service for refusing the experimental and risky Covid shot.
Earlier this year, Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas and 18 other Senate Republicans introduced the AMERICANS Act, a bill that would require the military to reinstate service members who were fired for refusing the jab, restore their rank, pay, and benefits, and expunge any adverse action based solely on vaccine status. However, unlike Rounds and Manchin’s “bipartisan” measure, the AMERICANS Act has seen no action in the Senate and has been sitting in the Senate Armed Services Committee since January 24. Neither Rounds nor Manchin have co-sponsored Cruz’s bill.
Despite holding a majority in the lower chamber, House Republicans have also failed to advance measures to assist troops wrongfully discharged over the shot. Instead of ensuring the core tenets of the AMERICANS Act were included in the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act, House GOP leadership settled for language merely directing the Pentagon to review the possible reinstatement of service members fired over the jab in the final negotiated version of the bill.
The Pentagon has offered nothing to these 8,400-plus discharged troops except letters pleading for their return. With such treatment, it’s no wonder that only 43 of these soldiers have chosen to rejoin and work for leaders who clearly have no regard or appreciation for their service.
Shawn Fleetwood is a staff writer for The Federalist and a graduate of the University of Mary Washington. He previously served as a state content writer for Convention of States Action, and his work has been featured in numerous outlets, including RealClearPolitics, RealClearHealth, and Conservative Review. Follow him on Twitter @ShawnFleetwood
Why hasn’t the AMERICANS Act, which aims to reinstate and restore benefits for service members discharged for refusing the Covid vaccine, made any progress in the Senate
Nate Armed Services Committee since January.
It is deeply concerning to see a clear discrepancy in how Congress is addressing the concerns of military personnel. On one hand, we have the Rounds-Manchin bill swiftly gaining support and potentially receiving Senate approval to financially compensate military officials affected by Senator Tuberville’s protest holds. On the other hand, there seems to be a lack of action in assisting the thousands of troops who have been discharged from service for refusing the Covid vaccine.
The Pentagon’s decision to use taxpayer dollars to fund travel expenses for abortions is a controversial issue, and Senator Tuberville’s protest holds were his way of expressing his disagreement with this policy. While one can debate the effectiveness or appropriateness of his actions, it is crucial to recognize that military personnel should not be caught in the crossfire of partisan politics. They deserve fair treatment and recognition for their service.
The Rounds-Manchin bill acknowledges this by aiming to provide the back pay that military officials who experienced promotion delays deserve. Both Senators Rounds and Manchin express their disagreement with the Pentagon’s abortion policy but emphasize the importance of separating politics from the military’s well-being. It is commendable that they prioritize fair compensation for the affected officials.
However, it is disheartening to see that a similar level of urgency and support has not been given to the troops discharged for refusing the Covid vaccine. The consequences for these service members have been severe, with their careers abruptly cut short and their benefits stripped away. Senator Cruz and his Republican colleagues introduced the AMERICANS Act earlier this year, which aims to reinstate these service members, restore their rank, pay, and benefits, and remove any adverse actions solely based on vaccine status. Yet, this crucial bill has seen no progress in the Senate.
The discrepancy between how Congress addresses these two issues raises concerns about the prioritization of military personnel’s rights and fair treatment. While the Pentagon’s abortion policy is undoubtedly contentious, it is puzzling that the discharge of over 8,400 troops for refusing the Covid vaccine does not receive the same level of attention and support from lawmakers.
Military personnel risk their lives to protect our country and our freedoms. They deserve to be treated fairly and with respect. Congress has a responsibility to ensure that their rights are not infringed upon and that they receive the compensation and benefits they deserve. It is time for lawmakers to address the issue of compensating troops discharged for vaccine refusal with the same urgency and dedication they have shown in the Rounds-Manchin bill. Only when all military personnel are treated equally can we truly honor their sacrifices.
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