Senate Passes Defense Bill That Will Lift Military Vaccine Mandate—Sending It To Biden’s Desk

Topline

The Senate on Thursday approved a $858 billion military spending bill that passed the House last week and would revoke the military’s Covid-19 vaccine requirement, sending the legislation to the desk of President Joe Biden, who opposes the vaccine rollback and has not said whether he will sign the bill.

Key Facts

Key Background

Congress delayed passage of the bill amid a partisan debate over the reversal of the military Covid-19 vaccine mandate, but ultimately moved forward with the provision in a bid to recruit Republicans who said they would vote against the legislation without the vaccine rollback. The bill passed the House 350-80 on December 8, with 45 Democrats and 35 Republicans voting against it, while 176 Republicans and 174 Democrats voted in favor. The House, however, refused to take up demands from some Republicans to reinstate with back pay the 3,400 military members who were fired for refusing to be vaccinated. The bill includes a 4.6% pay raise for military members, $800 million in additional funding for Ukraine amid its war with Russia, and a provision that transfers authority over military crimes, including sexual assault and rape, from military commanders to professional prosecutors.

Tangent

Biden, whose national security spokesperson recently called the rollback of the vaccine mandate a “mistake,” has not said whether he will sign the bill into law. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin also expressed opposition to the rollback.

Surprising Fact

The Senate vote on Manchin’s permitting amendment makes good on a promise Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) made earlier this year to Manchin that the upper chamber would take up his bill in exchange for Manchin’s support on the Inflation Reduction Act. Biden was in favor of Manchin’s energy-permitting legislation, which was expected to authorize completion of a natural gas pipeline through his home state. Some Republicans said Manchin’s legislation did not go far enough in loosening permitting restrictions on projects, including fossil fuel and renewable energy initiatives, while some progressives cast it as a giveaway for the fossil fuel industry. Even though it didn’t pass Thursday, the energy permitting bill still has a chance to pass as part of a fiscal 2023 government funding bill lawmakers are negotiating.

Further Reading

Debate Over Military’s Covid Vaccine Mandate Is Holding Up A Key Defense Spending Bill—Here’s What To Know (Forbes)

House Passes Defense Spending Bill—And Revokes Military Vaccine Mandate (Forbes)

Congressional Stalemate: Department Of Defense Urges Leaders To Approve Spending Bill –Here’s What’s At Stake (Forbes)