Congressman introduces resolution to give honorable discharges to troops who refuse coronavirus...

A member of the House Armed Services Committee is urging the Defense Department to act with impunity to service members who refuse to get the coronavirus vaccine.

Rep. Mark Green, R-Tenn., introduced a resolution on Friday that would give an honorable discharge to troops who choose not to get the coronavirus vaccine and face administrative and disciplinary action against them.

Green’s resolution comes days after Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced he will require all troops get the shots. Austin said Monday that regardless of whether the shots obtain full federal approval — expected to happen in the fall — he plans to seek President Joe Biden’s permission by mid-September to require all troops to receive the coronavirus vaccine.

“Having gone into battle myself, I strongly believe punishing those who refuse this vaccine, which has only been available for less than a year, is antithetical to the values of our military,” said Green, a 24-year Army veteran who deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.

Troops can apply for an exemption to the coronavirus vaccine mandate for certain health conditions or religious reasons, chief Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said this week.

A commander has the authority to decide what punishment troops will get if they decline to get the shot. Kirby said Austin expects commanders “to treat the administration of that vaccine with … professionalism, skill and compassion.”
The resolution has nine Republican cosponsors including Reps. Chip Roy and Dan Crenshaw of Texas, Andy Harris of Maryland, Kat Cammack of Florida, Greg Murphy of North Carolina, Mike Garcia of California, Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Tim Burchett of Tennessee and Tom Tiffany of Wisconsin.