Bill Overview
Title: Defending Freedom of Conscience for Cadets and Midshipmen Act of 2022
Description: This bill provides that a cadet or midshipman at a federal service academy (e.g., the U.S. Naval Academy) may not be required to be vaccinated for COVID-19 as a condition for graduation and may not be dismissed from the academy as a result of refusing to be vaccinated. Cadets and midshipmen who are prohibited from fulfilling their service agreement due to their refusal to receive a COVID-19 vaccination may not be subjected to repayment provisions (e.g., bonus repayment) or specified debt repayment collections.
Sponsors: Rep. Lamborn, Doug [R-CO-5]
Target Audience
Population: Cadets and midshipmen at federal service academies
Estimated Size: 18000
- The bill specifically mentions cadets and midshipmen at federal service academies such as the U.S. Naval Academy.
- These academies include other institutions like West Point and the United States Air Force Academy, suggesting a target group of military academy students.
- Federal service academies typically have thousands of students collectively, with the US Naval Academy, West Point, and the Air Force Academy each admitting approximately 1,000-1,200 new cadets each year.
- The bill refers to the vaccination status of these individuals, implying the impact is tied to those who have remained unvaccinated or are against vaccination.
- The legislation is focused on COVID-19 vaccine requirements, potentially affecting those who have religious, medical, or personal oppositions to mandatory vaccination.
Reasoning
- The target population for the policy is a relatively small and specific group: cadets and midshipmen at federal service academies. This defines the scope to thousands of young individuals in a highly structured environment.
- Given the policy's narrow focus, the budget will need to cover administrative aspects, legal protections, and any unforeseen costs associated with non-compliance resolutions.
- The policy's impact is limited to those who are specifically opposed to receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, which may represent a minority within the academies.
- A range of backgrounds should be represented in the interviews, including cadets, academy administration, families of cadets, and public opinion from those unrelated to the academies.
- While the legislation removes the vaccination requirement, it does not address other potential consequences of choosing not to vaccinate like social or health impacts.
- With the budget constraints, implementation of the policy would focus on administrative changes rather than extensive social or health support measures.
Simulated Interviews
Cadet at U.S. Naval Academy (Annapolis, MD)
Age: 19 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I appreciate the freedom to make personal health decisions without risking my academic career.
- There's still tension with peers who disagree with my stance, which affects my overall experience.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Cadet at U.S. Military Academy (West Point, NY)
Age: 21 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy doesn't affect me directly because I decided on my own terms to get vaccinated.
- It seems to bring closure for those who had issues with the previous mandates.
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 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Cadet at U.S. Air Force Academy (Colorado Springs, CO)
Age: 22 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is a relief because I can continue my education without fear of dismissal.
- I'm still concerned about future employment restrictions due to my vaccination status.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Parent of cadet (Arlington, VA)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm thankful for the policy as it safeguards my daughter's education.
- I worry about the social impact this might have within her peer group.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Academy administrator (Washington, D.C.)
Age: 35 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While I understand the need for freedom of choice, I worry about health implications and logistics.
- The shift in policy is an administrative challenge but manageable.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 8 |
Graduate and officer from Air Force Academy (Denver, CO)
Age: 24 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I feel neutral about the policy since I complied with requirements and it didn't hinder me.
- Concerned about potential future policy changes and their impacts on readiness.
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 |
Public health expert (Chicago, IL)
Age: 32 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy might undermine public health efforts by setting a precedent of leniency.
- It's crucial that it doesn't stall broader vaccination progress in other areas.
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 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 7 |
Public commentator (New York, NY)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy appears to respect individual rights but might conflict with unit cohesion values.
- It's important to ensure these choices don't affect operational readiness.
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 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Prospective cadet applicant (Annapolis, MD)
Age: 18 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy makes me more comfortable applying, knowing my choice will be respected.
- I'm still weighing all considerations, including health.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Military retiree (Seattle, WA)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I understand the need for freedom of choice but it's critical this doesn't hurt military effectiveness.
- It's good to have clear guidelines so cadets can make informed decisions.
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 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $1000000 (Low: $500000, High: $2000000)
Year 2: $1000000 (Low: $500000, High: $2000000)
Year 3: $1000000 (Low: $500000, High: $2000000)
Year 5: $1000000 (Low: $500000, High: $2000000)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The policy focuses on non-enforcement of specific COVID-19 vaccine mandates, potentially affecting operational policies at military academies.
- Future healthcare policy implications on federal employees or military personnel may arise if similar precedents are set.
- The policy might influence perceptions of medical readiness and overall health policy compliance within military structures.