(ReclaimingAmerica.net) – Twenty-one Republican governors have issued a call to the leaders of the US Congress to take steps to abolish President Joe Biden’s vaccine mandate for the US military, stressing it is putting America’s security at risk.
The letter by the GOP governors is addressed to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA).
The Republican governors urged the Congress leaders to use the annual defense law or another bill to end the military vaccination mandate due to the national security perils it has caused.
“We ask you to take immediate action to remove and prohibit the Biden Administration’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate on members of the US Armed Forces, issued by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on August 24, 2021—either through the National Defense Authorization Act or a standalone bill,” the Republican governors wrote.
“The Biden vaccine mandate on our military creates a national security risk that severely impacts our defense capabilities abroad and our state readiness here at home,” they added.
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee initiated the letter. It was also signed by the governors of Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Wyoming.
“We face a two-front problem due to the Biden vaccine mandate: current servicemembers are leaving our ranks, and new recruits are not signing up to join. Implementation of the mandate has placed our nation’s military readiness at risk,” the GOP governors pointed out.
The letter added the US Army National Guard saw 7,500 members leave service due to the vaccine mandate while missing its recruitment target by 10% this year. In addition, it is preparing to dismiss about 14,000 soldiers in the next two years for vaccine refusal.
The US Army failed to recruit 15,000 new soldiers, 25% of its 2022 target.
“As of November 15, 2022, the Armed Forces discharged 8,000 Active Duty members since the implementation of the Biden vaccine mandate,” the governors emphasized.
Meanwhile, thirteen Republican senators also proposed a clause to the annual defense bill preventing discharging of military personnel for vaccine refusal.
Their proposed amendment would also reinstate those already discharged and with back pay.
The 13 senators sent a letter to Republican Senate leaders, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, led by Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin.
“The Department of Defense COVID-19 vaccine mandate has ruined the livelihoods of men and women who have honorably served our country,” the letter stated.
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