Front view of the Capitol

Rep. Barry Moore joins bill to reinstate troops fired over COVID vaccine mandate

January 23, 2023
Press Release

Washington, D.C. — Rep. Barry Moore (AL-02) released the following statement after joining the Service Restoration Act that will permanently end the COVID-19 military vaccine mandate, protect unvaccinated servicemembers, and ensure those fired for not complying with President Biden’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate can return to serving their country with honor.

“Many of those purged from the military are from my district, patriots who were ready to give it all for our freedom, only to have their livelihoods stripped away because of a politically motivated, unscientific mandate,” said Moore. “They deserve to be restored to good standing and given full backpay, and that’s what I’m fighting for.

“Thanks to the hard work of many of my Republican colleagues, the Biden administration’s disastrous COVID-19 vaccine mandate was finally ended,” said Rep. Chip Roy (TX-21), the bill’s author. “But there is more work to be done. Republicans must fight to permanently end these mandates and make whole all the service members harmed by President Biden’s senseless policies. I’ve introduced the Service Restoration Act to do just that.”

Because of the efforts of many Republicans in the House, the DOD’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate was repealed in the FY23 NDAA. However, there is still more to be done to protect service members who chose not to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The Service Restoration Act:

  • Prohibits federal funds from being used to require members of the Armed Forces to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
  • Prohibits the DOD from taking adverse action against unvaccinated service members.
  • Requires the Secretary to reinstate members of the Armed Forces who wish to return to duty at the same rank as when separated.
  • Requires the Secretary to count the service members’ time separated from the military towards their retirement benefits.
  • Requires the Secretary to expunge from service members’ record any disciplinary action taken due to refusing to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
  • Ensures those separated from the Armed Forces for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine receive an Honorable discharge. 

Moore has led efforts in Washington to eliminate the military’s vaccine mandate. Since the mandate was ended, he has continued calling for the reinstatement with full backpay of members discharged for refusal to submit to the vaccination. 

 

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