Urges US Congress to pass legislation to reinstate service members discharged for refusing COVID-19 vaccine.
Impact
Should H.R.7570 be enacted, it would provide affected service members the opportunity to be reinstated to their previous rank and grade upon request and upgrade their discharge status to honorable. This change is aimed at recognizing the sacrifices made by military members and restoring their eligibility for benefits that may have been compromised by their discharge status. The resolution reflects New Jersey's commitment to honor the efforts of military personnel while also respecting individual choices regarding vaccination.
Summary
Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 45 (ACR45) is a resolution from the New Jersey Legislature that urges the United States Congress to pass legislation (H.R.7570) aimed at reinstating service members who were discharged from the military for refusing to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The resolution highlights the situation that arose when the Biden administration mandated vaccinations for military personnel in 2021, leading to disciplinary actions against those who opted out. As a consequence, many service members received general discharges under honorable conditions, which can affect their future employment and perceived contributions to the Armed Forces.
Contention
Not all legislators and stakeholders may view ACR45 favorably. The bill could spur discussions about military policy concerning vaccination mandates as well as broader implications regarding personal choice versus public health mandates in the military context. There may be varying opinions about the appropriateness of reinstating service members who refused the vaccine, and such debates could frame future discussions in both legislative and public arenas.
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.
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.
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.
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.