(Breitbart News) Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) said in a recent exclusive interview with Breitbart News that Congress next year will take up the issue of reinstating troops — with back pay — who were discharged over the vaccine mandate.. . .
. . . Blackburn led the push for the repeal of the Biden administration’s military vaccine mandate, which led to the discharge of at least 8,400 troops and threatened the discharge of tens of thousands more, at a time when the military is undergoing a recruitment crisis. The mandate also sidelined tens of thousands of troops from their jobs and pay, including many who had applied for religious or medical exemptions and were waiting to receive a response.
Democrats and the Biden administration staunchly opposed lifting the mandate, but Republicans in the House and Senate pushed to use the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) — a bill that authorizes activities and spending for the Department of Defense every year — as a vehicle to overturn the mandate.
On how she was able to do it, Blackburn said that she and her team all “worked closely with making certain that the [Republican] leadership was involved in this — being sure that we had our request in [with leadership], working with Democrats and Republicans in the House and Senate.”
Other Republican senators backed Blackburn’s efforts, or had previously pushed their own throughout the year. There were also a number of Republican House lawmakers, particularly from the House Freedom Caucus and on the House Armed Services Committee, and individuals such as Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), who had challenged the mandate and fought to have it repealed.
Organizations such as Stand Together Against Racism and Radicalism in the Services (STARRS) and grassroots groups made up of military families and service members also worked behind the scenes to voice their opposition to Congress. . . . (read the article)
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