Two Republican senators vowed late Wednesday to try again to bar the Department of Defense (DOD) from dishonorably discharging members of the U.S. military who decline to be vaccinated against the CCP virus, also known as novel coronavirus, the cause of COVID-19.
“I just hope the people here realize what a dishonorable discharge really means,” Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) told more than 2,000 conservative and evangelical family advocates at the Family Research Council’s (FRC) “Pray Vote Stand Summit” conference in Leesburg, Virginia.
“You’re never going to be able to get a job again. You’re going to lose your Second Amendment [rights]. They’re going to take away your VA health-care benefits and your education. It’s a big deal is what I’m trying to say,” Marshall explained in response to a question from the moderator, FRC President Tony Perkins.
Marshall was referring to a September 21 position statement issued by the White House saying the Biden administration “strongly opposes” congressional efforts to bar dishonorable discharges when service members decline to be vaccinated.
“You’re treated worse than a convicted felon,” added Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.), who joined Marshall in the discussion with Perkins.
The U.S. military includes approximately 1.3 million active-duty members, as well as an estimated 800,000 reservists subject to immediate call-up. More than 700,000 Americans have died as a result of the CCP Virus, with slightly more of the fatalities coming in 2021 than in 2020.
Marshall noted that votes will be taken later in October in the Senate on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), and he plans to introduce an amendment removing the dishonorable discharge option from the available disciplinary measures military leaders can impose on unvaccinated subordinates.
“The National Defense Authorization Act will be coming up for a vote probably the end of this month, and we’ll be offering an amendment just like we did on the continuing resolution to stop that nonsense. And we’ll need to activate your folks to help us out,” Marshall said.
