Leader McCarthy: 'We Just Won'; Vaccine Mandate Lifted for US Military
Susan Jones : Dec 7, 2022
CNS News
"You know what just posted online? The National Defense Authorization Act. You know what a new majority means in Congress? We will now lift the mandate in our military for the vaccine. No longer will they be able to kick out our men and servicewomen..." -House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy
What it does NOT contain is a controversial COVID vaccine mandate. In fact, the NDAA "requires the Secretary of Defense to rescind the mandate that members of the Armed Forces be vaccinated against COVID-19."
House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy called that a win for Republicans:
"I got good news for you," McCarthy told Fox News's Sean Hannity Tuesday night:
"You know what just posted online? The National Defense Authorization Act. You know what a new majority means in Congress? We will now lift the mandate in our military for the vaccine. No longer will they be able to kick out our men and servicewomen.
"We've been fighting for this for a long time. This is the difference when people go vote. This is the difference when I sat down and met with [Biden]. I told him there would be no NDAA unless this was in. We just posted it -- we just won. And think of everything else we can do if we are ready to go on January 3rd."
As CNSNews reported on December 1, thirteen Republican senators signed a letter insisting that the vaccine mandate be stripped out of the bill.
The Republicans noted that as of April 2022, "approximately 3,400 troops have been discharged from the military for refusing to be vaccinated against COVID-19. While the Department of Defense certainly must make decisions that will bolster military readiness, the effects of the mandate are antithetical to readiness of our force, and the policy must be revoked."
Republicans argued that the vaccine mandate was impacting military recruitment. And Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) suggested that by imposing the mandate, the Biden administration was hoping to purge conservatives in the military who don't agree with the liberal political agenda.
At a December 1 press briefing, a Pentagon spokesman said the "health and readiness" of a "warfighting organization" is paramount. He refused to discuss pending legislation, saying only, "the vaccine mandate is currently in effect."
The legislation posted on Tuesday night says the Pentagon must rescind the vaccine mandate within 30 days of the NDAA becoming law.
Among the many provisions in the FY2023 NDAA is millions of dollars more for Ukraine. The bill "Extends and modifies the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) and authorizes $800 million in fiscal year 2023, an increase of $500 million above the President's budget request."
It also "Requires a report on DOD plans for the provision of security assistance to Ukraine in the short and medium term." Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here