WASHINGTON - Several Republicans are warning that they will drag out Senate consideration of a massive military policy bill unless they get a vote on ending a Covid vaccine mandate for service members.
The seven senators said they would withhold support for a quick consideration of the National Defense Authorization Act if Senate leaders don't allow a floor vote on their proposal.
Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky said the group would not vote on the NDAA - the defense authorization bill unless we have a vote on ending the military vaccine mandate. Paul, who has often clashed with Dr. Anthony Fauci over the Covid vaccines, usually votes against the NDAA every year. He is also in line to be the top Republican on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, which oversees the government s pandemic response.
The Senate would not vote on the legislation because of the senators threat to delay final passage of the annual bill that Congress has passed, because it wouldn't prevent the Senate from voting on it.
Military recruitment had suffered as a result of vaccine requirements, which Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin made mandatory for all service members in August 2021, according to Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S. C. The requirement applies to all service members on active duty or in the Ready Reserve, including the National Guard.
Graham said that we are having a dilemma that we haven't had in decades, and that's why we haven't got enough people serving. The conflict in the world is getting worse, not better. We need more people in the military, not less. In June, NBC News reported that every branch of the military was struggling to meet its recruiting goals for fiscal year 2022, which ended Sept. 30.
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, who is threatening to slow down the defense policy bill, suggested that the Biden administration was using the vaccine policy to purge conservatives from the military.
He said that they are using it as an excuse from the enlisted level, all the way up to the majors and colonels to the top brass.
Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin cast doubt on the effectiveness of the vaccines despite their proven ability to provide robust protection against hospitalization and death.
The vaccine does not prevent infection. Johnson said it does not prevent transmission. It is insane. The GOP senators calling for a vaccine vote are Rick Scott of Florida, Mike Lee of Utah and Mike Braun of Indiana.
The Biden administration has had a mixed record on Covid vaccine mandates in court. In January, the Supreme Court blocked the administration's rule requiring larger businesses to ensure that workers are vaccinated or wear masks and get tested weekly. A separate mandate requiring vaccinations for an estimated 20 million health care workers could be enforced, it said.
The Supreme Court blocked a court order that prevented the Navy from allowing Navy SEALs from receiving a Covid vaccine, as a result of a victory for the Pentagon.
The proposal put forth by the seven GOP senators is unlikely to get a vote without the support of Senate Republican leaders.
Paul said that no one in leadership has backed their plan and was asked about conversations with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. and other GOP leaders.
To my knowledge, no one in leadership has signed up to support the effort yet.