Under the new GOP bill, service members who refused the COVID-19 vaccine would be reinstated and receive back pay.

A pair of Republicans are proposing legislation to reinstate and compensate service members who were dismissed due to the military's COVID-19 vaccine mandate.

The AMERICANS Act, introduced by Sen. Ted Cruz and Rep. Pat Harrigan, prohibits the Pentagon from implementing any new COVID-19 vaccine mandates without obtaining approval from Congress.

Any service member who was discharged solely for refusing the COVID vaccine would be offered reinstatement and receive credit for the time of their involuntary separation for retirement pay.

The company would reinstate and compensate anyone who was demoted due to the vaccine mandate.

To restore their GI Bill and health care benefits, those who do not wish to rejoin service can have their discharge changed to "honorable."

In August 2021, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin mandated that troops receive the COVID-19 vaccine for "readiness" reasons. However, this order was revoked in January 2023 following the direction of lawmakers in the annual defense policy bill passed by Congress that year.

Over 8,400 troops were separated during the 1.5-year duration of the order, while thousands of others applied for religious or medical exemptions.

The repeal of Austin's order did not necessitate the Pentagon to reinstitute troops who were separated due to the mandate. Moreover, commanders retained the right to assess troops' immunization status when making decisions regarding deployments or assignments. Austin stated that 96% of U.S. forces had received the vaccine.

"The Biden administration's wrongful COVID-19 vaccine mandate is still causing consequences for our military, according to Senator Ted Cruz. The AMERICANS Act aims to provide relief for servicemembers who were punished by the Biden Department of Defense for adhering to their beliefs. It is the right course of action."

"According to Harrigan, the Biden Administration's COVID-19 vaccine mandate was not based on science or readiness, but rather on control. As a Green Beret, he has witnessed the sacrifices made by our service members and will not allow their honor to be compromised."

On Tuesday, Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for Defense secretary, pledged to re-recruit military personnel who left due to the vaccine.

"Hegseth informed lawmakers that service members who were discharged due to the experimental vaccine will be reinstated with pay and rank, and an apology will be given to them."

Trump promised to reinstate all patriots who were dismissed from the military due to the mandate during the summer.

After the vaccine mandate was rescinded in early 2023, Pentagon leadership contemplated providing back pay to troops, but this plan did not materialize.

The vaccine mandate and its consequences have been a contentious issue for Republicans, who argue that it harms morale during a time of significant recruitment challenges. On the other hand, Pentagon leaders contend that their troops have been obligated to receive vaccines for years, especially when deployed overseas.