Reinstate Our Troops Act

Bill: 118-hr-3458
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Rutherford, John H. [R-FL-5]
Introduced: 2023-05-18
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Latest action: action_date: 2023-05-18
text: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.

Summaries:
action_date: 2023-05-18
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Reinstate Our Troops Act</strong></p><p>This bill addresses the reinstatement of members of the Armed Forces who requested an exemption from an order to receive a COVID-19 vaccination and were involuntarily separated solely on the basis of the refusal to receive such vaccination.</p><p>Specifically, at the election of the separated individual, the bill requires the military department concerned to reinstate the individual, in the same rank and grade the individual held at the time of separation. An individual must elect to be reinstated within the one-year period following the enactment of this bill.</p><p>Additionally, such individuals (enlisted members and officers) are not required to repay a bonus for failure to complete a period of service solely because such service was incomplete due to the exemption request and involuntary separation. The military department concerned must return a bonus repaid by an individual if the individual elects to be reinstated.</p><p>If an individual does not elect reinstatement, the military department concerned must ensure the discharge of the individual is characterized as honorable. The military department concerned must also expunge from an individual's military service record any reference to adverse action related to the refusal to receive a COVID-19 vaccination.</p>

tv_txt: I 118th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3458 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 18, 2023 Mr. Rutherford (for himself, Mr. DesJarlais , Mr. Reschenthaler , Mr. Posey , Mr. Collins , Mr. Webster of Florida , Mr. Carl , Mr. Self , Mrs. Miller of Illinois , Mr. Diaz-Balart , Mr. Murphy , Mrs. Spartz , Mr. Mooney , Ms. Tenney , Mr. Biggs , Mr. Moran , Mr. Santos , Mr. Weber of Texas , Mr. C. Scott Franklin of Florida , Mr. Miller of Ohio , Mr. Bean of Florida , Mr. Owens , Mr. Bilirakis , Mr. Guest , and Mr. Nehls ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services A BILL To establish certain remedies for certain individuals involuntarily separated from the Armed Forces solely on the basis of refusing to receive vaccinations against COVID–19.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Reinstate Our Troops Act . 2. Certain remedies for certain individuals involuntarily separated from the Armed Forces solely on the basis of refusing to receive vaccinations against COVID-19 (a) Reinstatement (1) Election At the election of a covered individual, the Secretary concerned shall reinstate the covered individual as a member of the Armed Force concerned, in the same rank and grade the covered individual held at the time of separation from such Armed Force. (2) Deadlines A covered individual may make an election under this subsection during the one-year period following the date of the enactment of this Act. The Secretary concerned shall reinstate a covered individual who makes such an election not later than 30 days after such election. (b) Bonuses for reinstated or reenlisted individuals In the case of a covered individual who makes an election under subsection (a): (1) Enlisted members (A) Inapplicability of repayment provision Subsection (g) of section 331 of title 37, United States Code, shall not apply to such an individual who fails to complete a period of service as a member of an Armed Force solely because such individual was a covered individual. (B) Return of repaid bonus Not later than 30 days after an individual described in subparagraph (A) makes an election under subsection (a), the Secretary concerned shall return to such individual a bonus paid under such section to such individual and repaid by such individual pursuant to such subsection (g) and section 373 of such title. (2) Officers (A) Inapplicability of repayment provision Subsection (f) of section 332 of title 37, United States Code, shall not apply to such an individual who fails to complete a period of service as a member of an Armed Force solely because such individual was a covered individual. (B) Return of repaid bonus Not later than 30 days after an individual described in subparagraph (A) makes an election under subsection (a), the Secretary concerned shall return to such individual a bonus paid under such section to such individual and repaid by such individual pursuant to such subsection (f) and section 373 of such title. (c) Retroactive characterizations of discharge In the case of a covered individual who does not make an election under subsection (a), the Secretary concerned shall ensure that the discharge of such individual is characterized as honorable. (d) Expungement of adverse action The Secretary concerned shall expunge from the military service record of a covered individual any reference to adverse action against such individual solely on the basis of the refusal of such individual to receive a vaccination against COVID-19. (e) Report Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives a report on progress in carrying out this section. (f) Definitions In this section: (1) The term covered individual means an individual who— (A) as a member of an Armed Force, requested an exemption from an order to receive a vaccination against COVID-19; and (B) was involuntarily separated from an Armed Force solely on the basis of the refusal of such individual to receive such a vaccination. (2) The term Secretary concerned has the meaning given such term in section 101 of title 10, United States Code.