Bill Overview
Title: To establish certain protections for members of the Armed Forces who refuse to receive vaccinations against COVID-19, and to increase basic pay for members of the uniformed services.
Description: This bill addresses the COVID-19 vaccine for members of the Armed Forces and basic pay for members of the uniformed services. Specifically, the bill prohibits the use of federal funds to require a member of the Armed Forces to receive a COVID-19 vaccination. The bill also prohibits adverse action (e.g., punishment) being taken against a member of the Armed Forces because the member refuses to receive a COVID-19 vaccination. The bill also increases the rate of monthly basic pay for members of the uniformed services by 2.7% starting on January 1, 2023. Uniformed services means members of the Armed Forces, the commissioned corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the commissioned corps of the Public Health Service.
Sponsors: Rep. Miller, Mary E. [R-IL-15]
Target Audience
Population: Members of the uniformed services
Estimated Size: 2200000
- The bill affects members of the Armed Forces who may choose to refuse the COVID-19 vaccination.
- It also impacts members of all uniformed services, including the Armed Forces, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Public Health Service, by increasing their basic pay.
- The bill directly involves all members of the US military since they are the ones who are under vaccination requirements and will receive an increase in basic pay.
Reasoning
- The primary target population of this policy includes active duty and reserve members of the Armed Forces, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Public Health Service—totaling approximately 2.2 million people.
- The prohibition on mandating COVID-19 vaccinations may impact those who are hesitant or opposed to the vaccine, while others may remain unaffected if they have already received it or support vaccination efforts.
- The pay increase could improve financial wellbeing for all uniformed service members, which constitutes the bulk of the policy's financial impact, given that the average salary increase directly benefits all service members.
Simulated Interviews
Special Forces Operations (Fort Bragg, NC)
Age: 34 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think increasing pay helps morale across the board. It's a good thing for service members.
- I already got vaccinated, so the vaccine part doesn't affect me.
- I'm supportive of whatever policy leads to better health outcomes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Navy Pilot (San Diego, CA)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I didn't want to take the vaccine, so knowing I won't be forced puts my mind at ease.
- The pay hike is a nice touch, it can alleviate some of my financial worries.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Public Health Officer (Houston, TX)
Age: 26 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- More pay is always welcome, and I already believe in the positive impacts of vaccination.
- This increase will help me manage student loans better.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
Coast Guard Officer (Washington, DC)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm nearing retirement, and the pay increase is beneficial for my pension.
- The vaccine policies wouldn't change anything for me.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
Navy Reservist (Norfolk, VA)
Age: 38 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I dislike being told what to do with the vaccine, so it's good that I have a choice now.
- I'm relieved by the pay raise, as my civilian job doesn't pay much.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
NOAA Officer (Anchorage, AK)
Age: 22 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I focus more on my career duties, and having more income is important as I start out.
- The vaccination aspect doesn't bother me much.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Army Logistics Officer (Fort Hood, TX)
Age: 31 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm a bit concerned about relaxation in vaccination requirements.
- The pay raise is needed as cost of living increases, even while reserving.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Air Force Nurse (San Antonio, TX)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's great that pay continues to rise, though I worry about potential vaccination impacts on military health.
- Ready to support health initiatives in any capacity we have.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
Marine Engineer (Seattle, WA)
Age: 25 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm anxious about COVID exposures—more vaccination helps overall.
- I'm satisfied with the pay increase though, it will help with bills.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Retired Naval Officer (Honolulu, HI)
Age: 55 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 1/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm interested to see how this affects those still in service.
- Personally, my wellbeing isn't impacted directly by these changes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $3600000000 (Low: $3400000000, High: $3900000000)
Year 2: $3600000000 (Low: $3400000000, High: $3900000000)
Year 3: $3600000000 (Low: $3400000000, High: $3900000000)
Year 5: $3600000000 (Low: $3400000000, High: $3900000000)
Year 10: $3600000000 (Low: $3400000000, High: $3900000000)
Year 100: $3600000000 (Low: $3400000000, High: $3900000000)
Key Considerations
- The large scale of personnel (2.2 million) directly impacts the financial calculations.
- Different branches of the uniformed services have varying structures and pay scales, influencing the overall cost estimate.
- Potential changes in service member readiness and health status due to vaccine refusal could impact operations and costs.