Bill Overview
Title: Safeguarding Military Bonuses Act
Description: This bill requires the military departments to grant to certain members of the Armed Forces (i.e., those who were involuntarily separated based on the refusal to receive a COVID-19 vaccination) an exception to the requirement that they must repay a bonus, incentive pay, or similar benefit that is contingent on the member's satisfaction of certain service or eligibility requirements. Specifically, this exception applies for such members if the bonus, incentive pay, or similar benefit was made before August 24, 2021.
Sponsors: Rep. Bice, Stephanie I. [R-OK-5]
Target Audience
Population: Members of the Armed Forces involuntarily separated for refusing a COVID-19 vaccine
Estimated Size: 2000
- The bill targets military personnel who were involuntarily separated from service due to refusal of COVID-19 vaccination.
- It specifically mentions members who received a bonus or incentive pay prior to August 24, 2021.
- The number of such affected members who refused COVID-19 vaccination may not be a large fraction but represents a distinct group of military personnel.
Reasoning
- The policy primarily benefits a small, specific subset of military personnel who were separated due to non-vaccination during the COVID-19 pandemic. This demographic's needs are unique, potentially including financial relief resulting from the loss of expected income.
- Given the budget constraint, each qualified individual might not receive large sums, but securing immunity from repayment obligations could significantly alleviate financial stress, improving the well-being of those directly affected.
- The estimated target group size (2000 members) aligns with the policy's budget limits, suggesting an average allocation that could feasibly cover bonus reimbursement waivers within this population.
- The general population impact is low, as the policy is narrowly focused on affected military members and not the broader public, making the commonness of directly affected individuals relatively rare.
Simulated Interviews
Former Army Sergeant (Texas)
Age: 34 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 1/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm relieved that I won’t have to repay my bonus, which I earned through my service. It feels like getting some justice after an unexpected career disruption.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 3 |
Former Navy Officer (California)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 1/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I wasn't expecting to repay my bonus, so this policy makes a huge difference for my educational plans.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 2 |
Former Marine Corps Staff Sergeant (Virginia)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This gives us a financial breather and it's good to know my service is valued, even under these circumstances.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 2 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 2 |
National Guard Veteran (Florida)
Age: 37 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 1/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy relieves some stress about finances so I can focus more on my new career without that debt hanging over me.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Former Air Force Captain (New York)
Age: 42 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 1/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This acknowledgment of our service through the policy is a small, but significant, victory amidst the challenging civilian transition process I face.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 2 |
Former Army Specialist (Illinois)
Age: 25 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 1/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Not having to repay allows me to allocate funds towards my education which sets me up better for the future.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Former Navy Petty Officer (North Carolina)
Age: 31 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 1/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This legislation reassures me that there's still some support after the service, which is needed when moving to civilian roles.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Former Coast Guard Officer (Ohio)
Age: 39 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Repayment would have been a considerable burden. This policy removes a significant financial worry, allowing focus on my new job.
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 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 3 |
Former Army National Guard Member (Georgia)
Age: 26 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is a modest, yet needed, financial relief while I pursue new career avenues.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Former Air National Guard Member (Colorado)
Age: 46 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 9.0 years
Commonness: 1/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy helps ensure I can focus my financial resources on my family and education expenses.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 3 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $30000000 (Low: $25000000, High: $35000000)
Year 2: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 3: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 5: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The number of affected individuals is estimated to be around 2,000, based on those who were involuntarily separated due to refusal of the COVID-19 vaccine.
- The bonuses and incentive payments involved vary widely in value, affecting overall cost estimates.
- The policy effectively prevents return of payments previously made, rather than actively spending new federal funds.