- The Senate overwhelmingly passed the National Defense Authorization Act on Wednesday
- It contains a provision that bars the Pentagon from giving servicemembers who won’t be vaccinated dishonorable discharges
- That means those servicemembers will also be eligible for veterans’ benefits
- Sen. Roger Marshall, a Kansas Republican and former Army doctor, sponsored the amendment
- Marshall said it ‘ensure[s] servicemembers will be protected from a dishonorable discharge for choosing not to get the COVID vaccine’
The Senate overwhelmingly passed the National Defense Authorization Act on Wednesday, which contains a provision that bars the Pentagon from giving servicemembers who won’t be vaccinated dishonorable discharges.
That means those servicemembers will also be eligible for veterans’ benefits.
Sen. Roger Marshall, a Kansas Republican and former Army doctor, sponsored the amendment and applauded the move Wednesday after the Senate passed the bill 88-11.
Marshall said it ‘ensure[s] servicemembers will be protected from a dishonorable discharge for choosing not to get the COVID vaccine.’
‘Simply put, a dishonorable discharge treats our heroes as felons. But, our American heroes deserve better,’ he continued. ‘I support the vaccine, but I also support those who are defending our freedoms and have carefully weighed their decision on whether to receive the COVID vaccine.’