Lamborn Fights for Service Members that Request Religious Exemptions from the COVID-19 Vaccine

This evening, during the House Armed Services Committee's full committee markup for the FY2023 National Defense Authorization Act, Congressman Lamborn introduced an amendment that would urge the Department of Defense to revise the existing procedure for vaccine-related religious exemption appeals for our service members. The amendment would replace the Surgeon General as the final authority on religious exemptions with the Chief of Chaplains. The change advocated for by this amendment would make the process for COVID-19 religious exemptions consistent with that of other religious exemption cases. It would also elevate the role of chaplains within the armed services.

Recently, four cadets at the U.S. Air Force Academy in my home district were told just days before graduation that their religious exemption waivers were denied. The punishment for this was a denial of commission, withholding an earned diploma, and potential recoupment of tuition. I am grateful that public outcry and Congressional attention changed the course of this bad decision. But the futures of these cadets are still changed forever.

As of June 2022, the United States Air Force has approved only 118 out of 13,494 religious exemption requests been approved. The Army only recently approved its first religious exemption in March.

The Department of Defense continues to lose court cases brought against them due to Religious Freedom Restoration Act concerns. These factors prove serious flaws with the military's COVID-19 religious exemption approval process.

Congressman Lamborn issued the following statement:

"I was glad to lead this effort and continue working to protect the 1st Amendment rights of our men and women in uniform. Over the past several months, I have heard concerns from cadets attending our service academies and members of our armed forces living in my district who have been denied religious exemption requests despite holding sincerely held religious beliefs.

"The small number of religious exemptions that have been granted proves that there is something wrong in this process. Not only are individuals being denied these exemptions, but cadets and service members who request accommodations are being unjustly punished.

"America was founded on the principles of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, which encompasses protecting the religious rights of the individual. This includes those individuals who put on the uniform and volunteer to serve our nation. It is completely possible to protect the religious beliefs afforded to our service members while preserving the chain of command.

"Although this amendment did not pass through the markup, I will continue to fighting to protect the constitutionally guaranteed freedoms of those who protect our nation."

The Amendment would have:

-Prohibited a service member from being involuntarily separated solely based on refusing to receive the vaccine.
-Offered a modest but important change to the religious exemption process, replacing the Surgeon General with the Chief of Chaplains as the deciding authority in religious exemption appeals.

During the markup, Congressman Lamborn also supported an amendment by Congressman Ronny Jackson that would exempt a cadet or midshipman that refused to receive a Covid-19 vaccination from having to repay tuition costs incurred during their time at one of the U.S. Service Academies.

In addition, Congressman Lamborn supported an amendment to allow a cadet or midshipman that refused to receive a Covid-19 vaccination to commission into the Armed Forces.

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