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Ted Cruz to Reintroduce Bill to Reinstate Military Members Fired Over Vaccine Mandates

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Months after the approval of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), Ted Cruz leads a group of senators who seek to reinstate to the armed forces all of those who were fired for not complying with Joe Biden’s vaccine mandate. The senator said that he will not stop fighting for them and will do everything possible to rectify this injustice.

In August 2021, the Biden administration implemented the Coronavirus vaccine mandate in the Armed Forces. After nearly a year and a half of complaints from Republicans, the bipartisan NDAA repealed this provision in December 2022. Now, Senator Ted Cruz is leading a crusade to reinstate those who were fired for not getting vaccinated.  

Speaking to Fox News he gave more details about his legislation, the Americans Act, which was co-sponsored by Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), James Risch (R-Idaho), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D. ), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn), Roger Marshall (R-Ks) , Mike Lee (R-Utah), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss), Mike Braun (R-Ind), Steve Daines (R-Mont), Lindsey Graham ( R-SC) and Rand Paul (R-Ky).  

He celebrated the NDAA as a “tremendous victory,” since it finally stopped “Joe Biden’s abusive COVID vaccine mandates that he had used to fire thousands of soldiers and sailors and airmen and Marines and Coast Guardsmen.”

“Unfortunately, that legislation that was passed was prospective only,” the Texas senator continued. “It stopped the mandate going forward, but it didn’t provide relief to the thousands of servicemen and women who were wrongfully fired, who were targeted for demotion, for forced retirements, for termination,” he said.

Despite the Senate being controlled by Chuck Schumer and the Democrats, Cruz is hoping to enlist the help of Congressman Dan Bishop (R-NC) to get his companion bill through the House.

“Unfortunately, some Senate Democrats have demonstrated over and over again that they are not willing to fight for the servicemen and women wrongfully targeted by the Biden administration for termination over the COVID vaccine. That’s been deeply disappointing. It may be different with a Republican majority in the House. Dan Bishop has introduced the companion bill in the House and I look forward to working with Dan to press to pass this into law,” remarked the Texan and former presidential candidate.

Ted Cruz legislation to “provide relief” to furloughed military personnel

Specifically, the Americans Act would create an avenue for those men and women who were discharged and want to return to service to be reinstated to their rank with all the benefits that entails.

“And for those who choose not to return to service, to ensure that their discharge is honorable, rather than merely a general discharge, and ensure that they receive the full benefits that they have earned defending our nation,” Cruz added.

Sen. Ted Cruz concerned about U.S.-Colombia relationship after election of Gustavo Petro  Ted Cruz back on the charge to reinstate military personnel fired over vaccine mandates, EFE
Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) expects the Americans Act to pass in the House of Representatives and move on to the Senate, currently controlled by the Democrats. (EFE)

As the text of the bill reads, the law would require the following of the Department of Defense:

  • Reinstate any service member separated solely for COVID-19 vaccine status who wants to return to service, crediting the service member with the time of involuntary separation for retirement pay calculations;
  • Restore the rank of any service member demoted solely for COVID-19 vaccine status, compensating the service member for any pay and benefits lost due to that demotion;
  • Adjust to “honorable” any “general” discharge given to a service member solely due to COVID-19 vaccine status;
  • Expunge from a service members’ record any adverse action based solely on COVID-19 vaccine status, regardless of whether the service member previously sought an accommodation;
  • Make every effort to retain service members not vaccinated against COVID-19, providing them with professional development, promotion, and leadership opportunities equal to that of their peers; and
  • Provide a COVID-19 vaccine exemption process for service members with natural immunity, a relevant underlying health condition, or a sincerely held religious belief.

“My message to every soldier, sailor, airman, Marine, and Coast Guardsman wrongfully terminated under this abusive mandate is: I will not stop fighting for you. We will keep fighting until you get the relief you deserve and until this injustice is corrected,” the senator concluded on the bill.

Joaquín Núñez es licenciado en comunicación periodística por la Universidad Católica Argentina. Se especializa en el escenario internacional y en la política nacional norteamericana. Confeso hincha de Racing Club de Avellaneda. Contacto: [email protected] // Joaquín Núñez has a degree in journalistic communication from the Universidad Católica Argentina. He specializes in the international scene and national American politics. Confessed fan of Racing Club of Avellaneda. Contact: [email protected]

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