Press Release
As Congress enters eleventh-hour negotiations over key defense bill Smith continues full-court press to restore education benefits robbed from US service members who were forcibly discharged by Biden’s COVID vaccine mandateAs Congress enters eleventh-hour negotiations over its key annual defense policy bill, Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) today continued his full-court press to restore hard-earned education benefits to US service members who were kicked out of the military because of President Biden’s COVID vaccine mandate. In a letter to leaders of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees, Smith urged his colleagues to include language in the FY23 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would require no less than an “honorable discharge” for any service member separated from the Armed Forces solely on the basis of objecting to the COVID vaccine, ensuring they retain their GI bill education benefits. “Congress must act immediately to restore the education benefits that have been robbed from the brave men and women who answered our Nation’s call to serve and were forcibly discharged as a result of President Biden’s COVID vaccine mandate,” said Smith, who has been contacted by several service members who have lost their benefits because of their medical or moral objections to the COVID vaccine. “This is no way to treat our courageous service members who put their lives on the line and sacrifice so much to preserve and defend our freedoms and security,” said Smith, former Chairman of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee and author of the Veterans Education and Benefits Expansion Act of 2001. “Our Nation’s veterans—who deserve the upmost respect for their heroic sacrifices to protect our democracy—must be assured of the hard-earned benefits they were promised,” Smith said. Smith’s renewed push comes after House Democrats on the Rules Committee blocked an amendment he offered to the NDAA in July that would protect the education benefits of those who objected to the COVID vaccine, denying it a vote by the full House of Representatives. Smith’s amendment would have replaced current provisions enacted in last year’s NDAA that permit a general discharge—rather than “honorable”—for any service member who is discharged because of their objection to the COVID vaccine. Testifying before the Rules Committee, Smith noted that service members with the general discharge status do not retain the education benefits they have earned and are likely to face unfair questions from future potential employers who see the less-than-honorable discharge listed on their résumé. “Congress must provide needed protections for US service members by ensuring that their discharge is nothing less than honorable so that they can access the GI bill benefits they are owed for their noble service to our country,” said Smith, who believes COVID vaccines should be voluntary and has authored legislation—HR 7570—to ensure those forcibly discharged by the COVID vaccine mandate are re-enlisted at their same rank and grade. ### |