[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 186 (Friday, October 22, 2021)]
[House]
[Page H5824]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  NO VACCINE MANDATE FOR OUR MILITARY

  (Mr. LONG asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. LONG. Madam Speaker, in 1886, a product was brought online, Coca-
Cola, and it remained one of the most popular products of all time 
until 1985, 99 years later, when they came out with a great idea, New 
Coke.
  The problem is, New Coke was a terrible idea, and 3 months later, 
they brought back what they call Classic Coke because of this terrible, 
terrible idea that had to be fixed.
  Making our military be vaccinated against their will is a terrible, 
terrible idea that needs to be fixed.
  Let me be clear. I have been vaccinated, and I have encouraged 
everyone to talk to their doctors and see if the vaccine is right for 
them. But ultimately, vaccination is a choice that shouldn't be 
mandated on our fighting men and women.
  As of yesterday, 30 percent of our total force remains completely 
unvaccinated. Are we prepared to lose 30 percent of the total force? 
How do we think that is going to impact military readiness? The 
Pentagon, when they came out with this program, said it was for 
military readiness. Come on.
  Some branches of the military offer waivers for religious reasons, 
but what if a breastfeeding mother isn't comfortable getting the 
vaccine? I have heard from several breastfeeding mothers.
  This needs to be fixed. I ask all my colleagues to join me in this 
effort. New Coke is not working.

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