[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 119 (Wednesday, July 12, 2023)]
[House]
[Page H3219]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       REINSTATING SERVICEMEMBERS

  (Mr. LaMALFA asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. LaMALFA. Mr. Speaker, we know from the Bible, under John 15:13, 
the phrase, ``There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for 
one's friends,'' which is very applicable to our military willing to 
enlist and serve in that way to defend our country.
  So, what is the reward? When the COVID farce hit, they were told 
initially by the President that we are not going to require injections, 
but that turned to: If you don't take this injection for COVID-19, you 
are going to be removed from the military.
  That is what, indeed, happened to many servicemembers who said: I 
don't really wish, in this free country, to take an untested injection.
  So, provisions we are making in the NDAA having to do with the COVID-
19 vaccine so-called discharges continue the prohibition on adverse 
action for any servicemember that refused to take it but also gives 
them a path back to service.
  We want to invite them to come back to serve. Recruitments are 
actually down during the summer season, but usually there is an uptick 
in people coming into the military. We need to do everything we can to 
provide an incentive and a welcoming atmosphere to come back to our 
military.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Bergman). The time of the gentleman has 
expired.
  Mr. LaMALFA. We need to treat time away from service for anybody that 
had to be kicked out and then reinstated as just a career intermission 
so it does not impact their future promotions negatively.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has again expired.
  Mr. LaMALFA. It prohibits the DOD from requiring cadets to repay 
tuition if they had to miss a period of time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman is no longer recognized.

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