Staff Reports
Republican Rep. Warren Davidson, from Ohio, is proposing a new law to compensate veterans who suffered side effects from the COVID-19 vaccine. The new law, called the Justice For Vaccine Injured Veterans Act, would provide disability compensation to veterans who developed certain health issues after being vaccinated. These conditions include myocarditis, pericarditis, Guillain-Barre syndrome, or thrombosis within a year of receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. This bill comes in response to the Defense Department’s mandate, which required all members of the U.S. armed forces to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
#EXCLUSIVE — Veterans injured by COVID-19 vaccine mandate could be paid under @Rep_Davidson's new bill https://t.co/8FDxWWGQL5 https://t.co/8FDxWWGQL5
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) May 2, 2024
Rep. Davidson believes that the Defense Department’s mandate was unfair to our nation’s warriors. He argues that COVID-19 posed limited risks to young, fit, healthy people, and yet the Biden administration still mandated vaccinations for military members. As a result, some have suffered adverse effects and become vaccine-injured veterans. According to Davidson, the nation has a moral obligation to care for these individuals, and this bill aims to fulfill that obligation.
If the bill becomes law, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs will have the authority to add other conditions for compensation. The Secretary will also be required to report on the number and status of disability compensation claims every 60 days. The bill has gained support from various Republican members, indicating a growing movement to address the impact of COVID-19 vaccine mandates on service members and veterans.
In addition to the efforts to compensate affected veterans, there have been other legislative attempts to address the consequences of COVID-19 mandates on service members and veterans. For example, in 2023, a group of GOP members sponsored the Vaccine Discharge Parity Act, which aimed to provide discharged service members with eligibility for certain education benefits. This demonstrates ongoing Republican efforts to support those affected by COVID-19 vaccine mandates within the military.
The significance of this issue is underscored by a lawsuit filed by a Republican representative, Anna Paulina Luna, and her husband against the Defense Department. They are challenging her husband’s discharge from the National Guard after he refused to receive the COVID-19 vaccine due to sincerely held religious beliefs. As a result, they have experienced significant financial hardship, including the loss of healthcare and military benefits.
