Posted: | February 17, 2022 05:10 PM |
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From: | Senator Doug Mastriano |
To: | All Senate members |
Subject: | Reinstatement of wrongfully terminated members of the National Guard |
In the near future, I will be introducing legislation to ensure that members of the PA National Guard and PA Air National Guard who have been unjustly discharged for refusal to receive a Covid-19 vaccination will be rightfully re-instated without adverse action. Nearly 20,000 Guard members are currently serving in Pennsylvania. Due to the recent Department of Defense order, members who have not received the Covid-19 vaccination will be discharged and forced to forfeit hard-earned benefits. The PA Air National Guard deadline to be vaccinated was December 2021. The PA National Guard deadline is this upcoming June. Thousands of Guard members who have dedicated their lives to serving Pennsylvania could be denied pay, benefits, promotion, and ultimately discharged for simply exercising their medical freedom. I am proposing legislation to ensure that any Pennsylvania Guard member who has been discharged due to refusal of the Covid-19 vaccination will be fully reinstated with no adverse actions. My bill will also ensure discharged members have the choice to be reinstated at the rank held at time of discharge. Furthermore, any loss of pay during the time of separation will be retroactively paid at time of reinstatement. Pennsylvania cannot afford to be left vulnerable by losing valuable members of our Guard who support critical missions in the Commonwealth. Please consider joining as a co-sponsor of this important legislation. |