As we wrap up another busy week on Capitol Hill, I want you to know that I am going to keep fighting to stop Joe Biden’s unconstitutional COVID vaccine mandates that are wreaking havoc on so many Americans including our nation’s military men and women.
With the National Defense Authorization Act on the floor this week, we were hopeful Senate Democrats would have allowed a vote on my amendment to stop Joe Biden from dishonorably discharging our servicemembers for choosing to not get the COVID vaccine. Unfortunately, Chuck Schumer dragged his feet on NDAA consideration and blocked floor amendments.
Considering China’s military rise and the foreign policy disasters this White House has created, one would think delivering a paycheck to our servicemembers and providing funding to increase our military’s lethality would be top of mind. Instead, the Majority Leader remains focused on reckless taxing, reckless spending, and reckless borrowing that is pushing Americans further into debt, driving up inflation, and putting our nation at a disadvantage.
The U.S. Senate should be able to vote on a myriad of amendments such as mine to prevent dishonorable discharges. As a former Army doctor, I support the vaccine, but I also believe in the sanctity of the patient – doctor relationship. And, I support those who are defending our freedoms and carefully weighed their decision – with their doctor, their loved ones, perhaps their chaplain – and decided this vaccine isn’t for them.
Unfortunately, the sledge hammer policy out of the White House says that one size has to fit all and there are no exceptions to its mandate. They also refuse to consider natural immunity even though we know natural immunity to COVID is the same as, if not more powerful than the vaccine. As a result, President Biden wants to slap a dishonorable discharge on our unvaccinated heroes who put their lives on the line each day to defend our freedoms and our American way of life. A dishonorable discharge for our servicemembers is excessive and beyond harsh: they are disqualified from most jobs, they lose access to the GI bill, they lose VA home loans and medical benefits, and they lose military funeral honors. A dishonorable discharge treats those defending our freedoms as felons.
But, our American heroes deserve better.
For these reasons, I urged Chuck Schumer today to change course and allow a robust NDAA amendment process that includes a vote on my amendment when the Senate returns after Thanksgiving. We have come a long way in our fight against vaccine mandates, and I thank each of you for your continued support in this battle – I will not let up.
No otherwise honorable member of the United States military should worry about losing their freedom while protecting ours. Unfortunately, thousands of our servicemen and women are about to lose those very freedoms that they have fought so hard to defend as President Joe Biden’s COVID vaccine mandate is threatening them with a dishonorable discharge should they chose to not get the shot.
The bottom line is, American heroes should not be treated as felons because of their personal medical choices. President Biden’s vaccine mandate is a slap in the face to so many American heroes who put their lives on the line each day to defend our freedoms and our American way of life.