Troops who refuse vaccine must be given an honorable discharge and will get access to veterans’ benefits according to new $768B defense bill

• 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.’

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10314041/Senate-passes-bill-prevents-unvaccinated-troops-dishonorable-discharges.html