A group of 21 Republican Governors sent a letter Wednesday to Leaders in Congress calling on them to object to President Joe Biden’s military vaccine mandate, saying it is putting the U.S. military readiness at risk.
In the letter, the group of GOP governors expresses their concerns with the military vaccine mandate to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. The lawmakers argue that the mandate creates a national security risk.
“We ask you to take immediate action to remove and prohibit the Biden Administration’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate on members of the U.S. Armed Forces, issued by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on August 24, 2021—either through the National Defense Authorization Act or a standalone bill. 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,” the Governors wrote in the letter.
On Aug. 19, 2021, Austin directed the military to “immediately begin full vaccination of all members of the Armed Forces under DoD authority on active duty or in the Ready Reserve, including the National Guard, who are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19.” (RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: House Republicans Call On Secretary Of Defense To Reconsider Vaccine Mandate In Light Of New CDC Guidance)
On Aug. 11, 2022, the CDC updated its COVID-19 guidance to ease recommendations for unvaccinated people who have been exposed to COVID-19, guidelines which are very similar to the recommendations for those who are vaccinated. The lawmakers state their issues with the current mandate in the letter. (RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: US Military Might Lose $4 Billion Due To Pentagon’s COVID Vaccine Mandate, According To Rep. Gaetz)
READ THE LETTER:
(DAILY CALLER OBTAINED) — … by Henry Rodgers
A number of House Republicans have introduced legislation to put an end to vaccine and mask mandates. In late September, a group of House Republicans introduced a bill that would prohibit federal agencies from implementing vaccine mandates.
The Daily Caller contacted the Republican Governors Association (RGA) about the letter and why every Republican Governor in the U.S. did not sign on, to which they did not immediately respond.