New Jersey 2022-2023 Regular Session

New Jersey Assembly Bill ACR146

Introduced
5/16/22  

Caption

Urges US Congress to pass legislation to reinstate service members discharged for refusing COVID-19 vaccine.

Impact

If passed, H.R.7570 would allow for the reinstatement of service members to their former ranks upon their request and facilitate a change in their discharge statuses to honorable. The New Jersey legislature expresses gratitude for the sacrifices made by military personnel and recognizes the need for respect for individual choices regarding medical decisions, such as vaccination. This resolution aligns state-level advocacy with federal initiatives to address the injustices faced by the affected service members.

Summary

ACR146 is a Concurrent Resolution introduced in the New Jersey legislature urging the United States Congress to pass H.R.7570. This proposed bill aims to protect service members who were discharged for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine. The context arises from the Biden administration's mandate in 2021 for military personnel to receive the vaccine, which led to disciplinary actions against those who did not comply, resulting in their discharge. ACR146 emphasizes the need to rectify the situation for these service members who may have received general discharges under honorable conditions, which can affect their eligibility for benefits and their future employment prospects.

Contention

Debate around ACR146 and H.R.7570 may highlight a broader national discourse focusing on personal autonomy in healthcare decisions within the military. There are likely contrasting viewpoints regarding the military's authority to mandate vaccinations versus the rights of service members to refuse. Proponents of the resolution argue that it serves justice to those who have served the nation, while critics may view it as undermining the military's operational requirements and public health imperatives. Thus, while the resolution calls for reinstatement of discharged members, it also reflects deeper issues of individual rights versus collective responsibility in the context of military service.

Companion Bills

NJ SCR113

Same As Urges US Congress to pass legislation to reinstate service members discharged for refusing COVID-19 vaccine.

Previously Filed As

NJ ACR140

Urges US Congress to pass legislation to reinstate service members discharged for refusing COVID-19 vaccine.

NJ SCR93

Urges US Congress to pass legislation to reinstate service members discharged for refusing COVID-19 vaccine.

NJ HB118

No Vaccine Passports Act This bill prohibits certain actions related to vaccine passports and proof of COVID-19 vaccination. Specifically, a federal agency may not issue a vaccine passport, vaccine pass, or other standardized documentation for the purpose of certifying the COVID-19 vaccination status of a U.S. citizen to a third party, or otherwise publish or share any COVID-19 vaccination record of a U.S. citizen or similar health information. Additionally, proof of COVID-19 vaccination shall not be required to access federal or congressional property or services.

NJ HB121

No Vaccine Passports Act This bill prohibits certain actions related to vaccine passports and proof of COVID-19 vaccination. Specifically, a federal agency may not issue a vaccine passport, vaccine pass, or other standardized documentation for the purpose of certifying the COVID-19 vaccination status of a U.S. citizen to a third party, or otherwise publish or share any COVID-19 vaccination record of a U.S. citizen or similar health information. Additionally, proof of COVID-19 vaccination shall not be required to access federal or congressional property or services.

NJ HF860

Income tax subtraction of back pay allowed for military members discharged due to the military's COVID-19 vaccination mandate.

NJ AR110

Urges New Jersey members of Congress to join Congressional Brain Injury Task Force.

NJ HJR0098

A RESOLUTION to urge the United States Congress to require the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to add COVID-19 treatments and anthrax vaccinations as pre-qualifying for care under the PACT Act.

NJ SF1590

Income tax subtraction of back pay permission for military members discharged due to the military's COVID-29 vaccination mandate

NJ SB117

Allowing Military Exemptions, Recognizing Individual Concerns About New Shots Act of 2025 or the AMERICANS ActThis bill prohibits the Department of Defense (DOD) from issuing any COVID-19 vaccine mandate as a replacement for the rescinded vaccine mandate of August 24, 2021, unless the mandate is expressly authorized by Congress. The bill also provides that DOD must establish an application process for remedies for members of the Armed Forces who were discharged or subject to adverse action under the rescinded mandate.Any administrative discharge of a member on the sole basis of a failure to receive a COVID-19 vaccine must be categorized as an honorable discharge, and DOD is prohibited from taking any adverse action against such a member for that reason.DOD must try to retain unvaccinated members and provide such members with professional development, promotion and leadership opportunities, and consideration equal to that of their peers.Additionally, DOD may only consider the COVID-19 vaccination status of members in making certain decisions (e.g., deployments in countries where it is the law) and must establish a process to provide exemptions to certain members for such decisions.Members who were separated from the Armed Forces for refusing to receive a COVID-19 vaccine are not required to repay any bonuses and must be reimbursed if they repaid any portion of a bonus prior to this bill's enactment.This bill applies to all members of the Armed Forces, regardless of whether they sought an accommodation to any DOD COVID-19 vaccination policy.

NJ AR16

Urges Congress to compel Department of Health and Human Services to fulfill its obligations pursuant to the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986.

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